Aubameyang wants £250,000-a-week, three-year extension to stay at Arsenal
Arsenal’s Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang kisses the winner’s trophy as the team celebrates victory after the English FA Cup final football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium in London, on August 1, 2020. – Arsenal won the match 2-1. (Photo by Adam Davy / POOL / AFP)
Manager Mikel Arteta is said to have told Aubameyang he can join the esteemed list of Arsenal’s greatest ever forwards should he commit to the club and spearhead the Gunners’ new direction.
Now that the season has finished and Arsenal have a clearer idea of their financial projections, they will sit down to discuss with Aubameyang, according to the Mirror.
The player is reported to want a three-year deal, which will take him through to the age of 34, with earnings of £250,000 per week.
Such a deal would sky-rocket Aubameyang up to one of the highest earners in Arsenal’s history, behind the eye-watering £350,000-a-week deal of Mesut Ozil.
Arsenal, however, are wary of not falling into the same trap as they did with Ozil, who signed for huge figures before seemingly growing more disillusioned at the club and finding himself out of the team entirely.
The Gabon international stole the show at Wembley and fired Arsenal to FA Cup glory
Aubameyang’s current £180,000-a-week deal expires next summer but his contract includes a 12-month extension clause.
It is reported that Arsenal must trigger the clause by December 31, which would then see his wages go up significantly.
With bonus fees involved this could cost the club around £20 million for one season, after which Aubameyang could still leave.
Arsenal, therefore, want the matter resolved indefinitely, and will push for their FA Cup hero to sign on the dotted line with completely fresh terms taking him through until 2023.
Arteta will then be able to turn his focus to transfer plans and, as exclusively revealed by Sportsmail, the Spaniard has been told he must sell players before he can buy this summer.
It is understood the club could even offload Alexandre Lacazette or Hector Bellerin if a sizeable offer is made for either player.
Sokratis, Matteo Guendouzi, Lucas Torreira, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Sead Kolasinac — as well as Shkodran Mustafi and Rob Holding, who have played key roles for Arteta in recent weeks — are also in the shop window.
Culled from dailymail.co.uk
