Barcelona agree loan deal with Arsenal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as Joan Loporta confirms bid for Ousmane Dembele

Barcelona president Joan Laporta remains confident over a deal to sign Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang while also confirming a bid from an English side for Ousmane Dembele.

Talks for Barcelona to sign Aubameyang on loan from the Gunners appeared to hit a wall earlier today but Laporta remains hopeful the clubs can strike a deal before Monday’s transfer deadline.

‘It seems that we will pull it off,’ the Barcelona president told reporters, before sharing an update from the club’s director and chief negotiator Mateu Alemany

‘Mateu Alemany has told me he thinks we will sign him.’

Laporta added: We would like to sign him for Barca. He has some issues to finalise with Arsenal and we’re hanging a bit on those.

‘We’re trying to create the right conditions to complete it. It’s complicated but there’s hope.’

The Athletic also report that Barcelona have reached a verbal agreement with Arsenal to sign the 32-year-old striker on a six-month loan deal with the option of a further year.

Ousmane Dembele looks set to play a key role in any move tonight with Chelsea reportedly close to signing the France international in a shock deadline day move.

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Offloading the winger from their wage bill will help Barcelona clinch a deal to sign Aubameyang, with Arsenal not willing to cover his salary.

Quizzed on Dembele, Laporta confirmed the winger has an offer from an English side.

‘Various solutions have been proposed, the last one depends on whether the player accepts it, it is to go to an English