Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has requested a minimum three-year contract worth up to £250,000-a-week to stay at Arsenal, sources have told ESPN.
The 31-year-old has entered the final 12 months of his existing agreement with talks underway over an extension after a delay in negotiations due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Gunners are yet to determine their summer transfer budget amid uncertainty over which European competition — if any — they will be playing in next season but have made tying down Aubameyang a top priority.
Aubameyang, who is the Premier League’s joint-top goalscorer alongside Jamie Vardy on 19 goals, has expressed a willingness to stay and all parties are reported to be working constructively to find an agreement.
Given his age, Aubameyang’s next contract is likely to be the last big deal of his career and he is in a strong negotiating position having been a huge success since arriving from Borussia Dortmund for a then club-record £56 million in January 2018.
After scoring twice against Norwich on Wednesday, the Gabon international became the fastest player to reach 50 Premier League goals (51 from 79 games) in Arsenal’s history and the club is keen to reward him for his fine form.
Aubameyang’s contract is worth just under £200,000-a-week but contains various add-ons and incentives related to both individual and team performance.
That series of clauses is reported to include additional appearance fees, goal bonuses and a reward for Champions League qualification.
The structuring of a new deal is being discussed in addition to the length and although it represents a considerable outlay for a player over 30, Arsenal recognises his central importance to head coach Mikel Arteta’s plans.
The top-end figure is also lower than the £350,000-a-week Mesut Ozil receives.
Source:ESPN
