Arsene Wenger is so convinced that Arsenal will sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang he is already planning his team to face Swansea around the Borussia Dortmund star, according to reports.
The Gunners sent a delegation of officials to Germany to negotiate a deal for the Gabon striker, who has netted 13 goals in 15 Bundesliga appearances this season and was the Golden Boot winner last year.
Arsenal remains in talks with Dortmund as they try to agree on a fee for the 28-year-old, though Bild report Wenger is planning his team to face Swansea in the Premier League with Aubameyang in mind.
The Gunners progressed to the final for the Carabao Cup thanks to a 2-1 win over Chelsea on Wednesday night, though their premature exit from the FA Cup means they are not in action again until Tuesday, January 30.
That date is already the day when Henrikh Mkhitaryan will make his debut for the Gunners after his move from Manchester United in a straight swap Alexis Sanchez.
But it could also be the first glimpse Arsenal get of Aubameyang, with Bild claiming a deal for Aubameyang could not be wrapped up quickly – with a bid worth around £52m plus Olivier Giroud likely to be accepted.
However, a word of warning, the print version of Kicker claim Dortmund are unhappy with how slowly talks are progressing and have reacted angrily to the sense that Arsenal feels they can hold them to ransom due to Aubameyang’s desire to leave.
Wenger himself confirmed that a move was not close after Wednesday’s win, saying: ‘The best [thing] is I don’t talk about it. It wouldn’t help.
‘If something happens it happens, if it doesn’t we are strong enough to focus on the players we have.
‘I’m perfectly happy with the players we have.
At the moment, we are open to strengthening the team but we are not close to signing anybody.’
