Arsenal are close to an agreement with Barcelona to take Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on loan until the end of the season.
Progress has been made and will be further aided by Barcelona’s attempts to sell contract rebel Ousmane Dembele to Paris St Germain.
Aubameyang’s salary is the main issue to resolve with the 32-year-old understood to be willing to take a pay cut on his estimated £350,000-a-week salary so that he can be registered with the Catalans.
Arsenal want Barcelona to cover as much of his wages as possible, which will be helped if Barca lose Dembele’s £210,000 a week salary and gain their desired £16.5m fee for the France winger.
Talks started with PSG offering a swap for Mauro Icardi on Sunday though Barca prefer a sale. Dembele has agreed personal terms. He had been looking for a club in the Premier League but Manchester United and Chelsea ruled themselves out of a bid.
Eddie Nketiah is likely to stay at Arsenal should Aubameyang depart, despite a request from Crystal Palace.
Arsenal have been looking to move Aubameyang on ever since he was dropped from the squad by coach Mikel Arteta and stripped of the captaincy following a breach of discipline.
Barcelona have had a busy transfer window, signing Spain striker Ferran Torres from Manchester City for £55million, despite the much publicised financial problems which forced them to part ways with Lionel Messi last year.
They have also brought Adama Traore back to the club where he began his career, despite the winger barely featuring for Wolves this season.
