Arsenal are open to letting Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang run down his contract if they fail to receive a decent price for him this summer.
Aubameyang, 30, has just over a year remaining on his current £180,000-a-week deal at the Emirates
Real MadridandBarcelonahave ben linked with the striker, who has bagged 61 goals in 97 appearances since joining fromBorussia Dortmundin January 2018.
But according toThe Sun, Arsenal will keep Aubameyang to the end of his contract if they can’t get a significant price for him.
Arsenal Head of Football Raul Sanllehi insisted no player would be allowed to depart free of cost after Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck all run down their contracts.
But with the coronavirus pandemic likely to complicate this summer’s transfer window, Aubameyang’s value could plummet and therefore deter the Gunners from letting him move on.
Spanish giants Barca were put off the Gabon international in January when they were quoted a price of £50million for the soon-to-be 31-year-old.
That means he could be worth as little as £20million in the current market.
Aubameyang could be worth as little as £20million in the current market, meaning the Gunners are prepared to lose him for nothing next summer
Arsenal would be unable to replace his goal return and quality for that price, meaning it would make more sense to keep him until his contract expires.
“It’s interesting the Arsenal situation because towards the end of my career at Liverpool we were in this situation quite a lot where you are just missing out on the top four,” Carragher said on Sky Sports’ The Football Show.
“Yes, it’s okay having rules in place and Arsenal saying: ‘We never let a player go on a Bosman ruling’.
“However, if you are Mikel Arteta, I would be looking at it and thinking, even if he goes for nothing next year, have we got more chance of getting in the Champions League for next season if Aubameyang stays, and that’s the decision they’ve got to make.”
Source:Daily Star