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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Freddie Keighley

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's transfer preference scuppering immediate Arsenal exit

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 's future with Arsenal is as uncertain as ever with the exiled forward reluctant to make the switch to Saudi Arabia, according to reports.

Aubameyang, 32, is the subject of intense interest from Al Hilal, who are said to be willing to pay his wages in full as part of a loan deal with the option to buy this summer.

Given he earns £350,000 per week and is out of favour under Mikel Arteta, this proposal is understandably an attractive one for the Gunners.

Aubameyang has not played for Arsenal since he was stripped of the captaincy in mid-December due to a disciplinary breach.

But the Gabonese has little desire to rekindle his career in the Middle East and he is unlikely to agree to join Al Hilal regardless of whether Arsenal accept their bid.

Has Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang played his final game for Arsenal? Have your say in the comments!

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is reportedly not convinced about joining Al Hilal (Getty Images)

That is according to The Athletic, which claims Aubameyang is still highly ambitious and would rather ply his trade with another European giant.

The report adds Paris Saint-Germain are one of many clubs on the continent to have been alerted to his situation at the Emirates.

But Aubameyang's astronomical salary, which came as part of a three-year extension signed in 2020, could foil a transfer away in the final week of the January transfer window.

Meanwhile, he is continuing to train separately and at different times to the rest of the first-team squad having returned early from the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Aubameyang did not feature at the tournament and was sent home after a health check found signs of "cardiac lesions" following a bout of coronavirus.

It remains to be seen if he will travel to Dubai for a warm-weather training camp with his teammates on Thursday, although the report adds this is unlikely.

Arsenal were held to a 0-0 draw by Burnley on Sunday afternoon and they do not return to action until 10 February, when they face Wolves in the Premier League.

This gives Arteta and his players plenty of time to recover from the rigours of the January schedule and prepare for the run-in.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been training separately at Arsenal's London Colney base (Getty Images)

But the Spaniard may not travel with as many players as he would have liked due to AFCON and Covid-19 vaccination status.

The Athletic adds Jack Wilshere is expected to be named in the group to jet to Dubai as he continues to train with his former club.

But the ex-England international will not be signing a contract with the Gunners and instead he will continue to weigh up his next move having been released by Bournemouth at the end of last season.

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