Barcelona president gives Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang transfer update after medical is cancelled

Barcelona president Joan Laporta says the club are still working to sign Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang despite cancelling his proposed medical.

The Catalan giants had been locked in talks with the Gunners over a last-minute loan deal for the exiled forward, who was banished from the squad by Mikel Arteta at the start of December and stripped of the captaincy.

However, Barcelona cannot afford Aubameyang’s massive salary – rumoured to be around £350,000-a-week – and Arsenal have no intention of subsidising his wages.

The 32-year-old has even flown to Catalunya in anticipation of the move happening, though he is believed to have done so entirely independently from Arsenal in a move that surprised the club.

Barca boss Xavi is desperate for a new frontman and there has been speculation a compromise might be found to secure Aubameyang’s loan signing – such as the Gabon international taking a pay cut.

The Spanish side had set up a medical for Aubameyang, but multiple reports in Spain claim that has now been cancelled or at the very least put on standby.

But if Barcelona fail to land Aubameyang they will be left extremely light up front, with the club also frustrated in their attempts to sign Alvaro Morata – who will remain on loan at Juventus – and they have not given up on signing the Arsenal frontman just yet.

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Barca chief Laporta has confirmed that the club are still working on transfers – and a deal for Aubameyang – and will continue to do so right up until the