Arsenal will reportedly not save as much as £25million from the exit of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gabon international was earning £350,000-a-week at the Emirates - £18.2m per year - and still had 17 months remaining on his contract before he joined Barcelona on deadline day.
There were claims that the Gunners would pocket all of the £25,783,333 they were tied into paying him between now and the end of his contract in July 2023 had he remained at the club.
But that is not the case according to The Athletic.
Arsenal have made a significant saving, but it is not as high as £25m. Mikel Arteta's men are splitting his wages with Barcelona until the summer, at which point the Spanish club will then start paying the full amount of his salary which is actually lower than what he was earning in north London.
Should Arsenal have allowed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to join Barcelona? Let us know in the comments below!
It was also claimed that Arsenal have been forced to pay Aubameyang £7m to cancel his contract which contradicts the notion that he sealed a free transfer to the Nou Camp.
The Athletic backed up this report but says the club are paying Aubameyang in installments rather than a lump sum.
Aubameyang was surplus to requirements at Arsenal after a public fallout with the Spaniard as he was stripped of the captaincy.
The striker was unveiled as Barcelona's new signing on Thursday and admitted to the press that an issue with Arteta drove him to make the decision.
"A difficult few months. I've never wanted to do anything wrong, it's in the past," said Aubameyang.
When asked if he had a problem with the Gunners boss, he added: "Yeah, I think it was just with him. I can't say much, he wasn't happy, I stayed calm and that's it."
The 32-year-old is lacking match fitness as he hasn't played for Arsenal since December 6 in a 2-1 defeat against Everton.
Aubameyang did travel to the African Cup of Nations with Gabon but was sent home early after scans revealed "heart lesions" following a bout of Covid as he tested positive on arrival in Cameroon on 6 January.
He underwent further medical checks upon his return to Arsenal but has since been given the all-clear.
And Aubameyang is keen to get back on the pitch, and says Xavi has promised to play him as a centre-forward.
"I haven't played a game in a long time but it's very clear in my head that I'll be ready soon to play and to help. I know we're going to get back to the top little by little," he said.
"I've spoken a bit with Xavi. He sees me playing as a number nine and I'll be there soon. But if he needs me on the wing that wouldn't be a problem."
