Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's future in north London appears to be all but over and a move away either in January or at the end of the season seems inevitable.
The 32-year-old was stripped of the club captaincy and barred from first-team training after returning late from a personal trip to France, and has not played since the 2-1 defeat to Everton at the start of December.
With Mikel Arteta coping fine without him and pushing for a shock place in next season's Champions League, Aubameyang is set to be sold or allowed to leave.
Whether that happens in the January transfer window or in the summer remains to be seen, however.
"The image that I show is a tree, a tree with roots. We have to look after those roots every single day. If we don't do that, it won't be sustainable over time and that's our responsibility," Arteta said back in January when explaining his decision to BT Sport.
"It's not about what I say, it's about a commitment that everybody has to make if they want to be part of that, because if not, it's impossible to live together in a good environment where we can enjoy our profession and this club when everybody is doing what they want."
Complicating any move further is the fact that he recently returned from the Africa Cup of Nations early after a heart condition was uncovered during training with Gabon.
But Aubameyang recently sought to put any fears to rest, saying his heart is "absolutely fine".
While clubs may now be a tad more cautious about offering the player a deal, Aubameyang himself has made a significant decision regarding his future.
A host of clubs have been linked with a move for the player including Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle United and Barcelona, while Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal have already made an offer.
But according to a report from The Athletic, Aubameyang is eager to remain in one of Europe's top leagues should he leave Arsenal.
However, the report also states that his significant wage demands are likely to be a stumbling block for any club in Europe's top leagues.
