This summer’s transfer window is an important one for Arsenal and one player whose future will be a major focus is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gabon striker is entering the final year of his current Arsenal contract and the Gunners want him to renew his deal with them.
He has been very important to the Gunners with his goals helping the club to remain in the hunt for a European place this season.
However, talks over a new deal have stalled with the striker free to speak to other teams ahead of a free transfer from next January.
Just like most Arsenal fans, former Gunner, David O’Leary has been concerned about the future of the club’s captain.
In speaking about the strikers future recently, he insisted that Arsenal cannot afford to let the former Borussia Dortmund man leave them for free like Aaron Ramsey did last summer.
He, however, said the club had to know what the striker wanted and act accordingly and if they need to replace him they have to look for a striker that is young and hungry because they should sign a replacement with the future in mind.
He said via Talksport: “I think the club has learned in the past that letting people’s contracts run down and walking out on free transfers, top players have done that, it’s not financially right for the club.
“Personally, I hope he signs again because his goal-scoring record is unbelievable.
“But, the club has got to find out does he want to stay, and if he doesn’t then I think they have got to cash in on him.
“You cannot afford to let contracts run down now, particularly a player like that.
“If he runs his contract down and just walks out on a free, that would be criminal in many ways.
“But we all have to have our own structures on the financial side of things. I don’t know what he’s looking for.
“Arsenal pay fantastically well, whether that is good enough for him… [I don’t know]
“If it’s not going to be, I hate to say it, I think they have got to go and get the best price for him and use that money to bring in someone young and hungry and hopefully do great for Arsenal Football Club.
“I hope it doesn’t come to that.”
To keep a top player, you give him a better wage as every club does; we offering same wage. He will get same wage and a nice bonus for signing free as every players. It is all lost for us then and all win for him! Kroenke though we can trick him with captaincy! Just as he pulled Pepe payment plan trick to flash us with a fake tag, look what Pepe investment so far! Kroenke Boomerang comes right back to him hard!
To keep top player, you need to offer a raise, for a golden boot, it should be even more so.
Top players are in demand, they pick club beyond money, they join to win titles.
Auba will not stay without being treated right and mainly have a team reinforced for title’s ambition.
In other words, if you bring Partey, Koulibaly, we look strong and can have ambition, even more so if we add Couthino. Top players want to be in a team they feel has potential to win!
At this point in time I doubt Auba is looking for money as a factor whether he stays or goes. Arsenal pay well but the big point is will Arsenal strengthen its squad with world class players so that we are title contenders and CL contenders. That is what Auba is looking at.