Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is thought to be on the transfer wish-list of up to six different European sides this transfer window while his days as an Arsenal player look numbered given his exile from the first-team fold continues.
The Gunners were hoping that the forward would be keen on a switch to Saudi Arabian outfit Al Hilal, who were willing to pay every penny of Aubameyang's eye-watering £350,000 per-week wages on a season-long loan deal.
Fellow Saudi side Al Nassr also expressed an interest in doing the same, but Aubameyang intends to remain in Europe and continue to participate at the highest level possible.
As a result, Aubameyang is likely to prove harder to shift given fewer sides on this continent will be willing to pay all of his astronomical wages.
Arsenal could be left to rue the decision to hand him such a mega-money contract extension in the summer of 2020.
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The striker has potential suitors in three of Europe's five major leagues with AC Milan, Sevilla, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille and Barcelona all keeping tabs on the situation, though it is unlikely that any of those sides will cover all of his weekly earnings.
The Gabon international has returned to London early from the Africa Cup of Nations due to fears over his health after contracting Covid-19 on the eve of the tournament's start.
After tests determined he is healthy and fit to play, Aubameyang has continued to train away from the rest of his Arsenal teammates just like he was prior to leaving for international duty.
The striker has been deemed surplus to requirements by Gunners boss Mikel Arteta with the Spaniard stripping Aubameyang of the captain's armband following his latest disciplinary breach.
Allowing Aubameyang to play in another major European league could leave the Gunners looking foolish for two key reasons.
The first being they will still have to cover at least part of the ludicrously high salary they offered him.
The second is the fact that should the forward prove he can still find the back of the net, Arsenal will undoubtedly face backlash from their own supporters over not keeping him around as they desperately try to remain in the hunt for a top four finish.
Arsenal are in dire need of their own striking reinforcements as both Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are out of contract come the end of the season.
Fiorentina's Dusan Vlahovic has been a target all window but a deal looks increasingly unlikely as we near the deadline.
As a result, the Gunners have reportedly shifted their attention to both Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Real Sociedad star Alexander Isak.
Arsenal are planning to make use of their two-week break from any action by travelling to Dubai for some warm-weather training, though it remains unclear if Aubameyang will attend.
"We'll see the situation. I don't know," Arteta admitted when asked about Aubameyang making the trip.
