Wenger confirms Arsenal in talks over transfer of Borussia Dortmund forward Aubameyang

Arsene Wenger has revealed Arsenal “are not close to doing any deals” but revealed that the club are in talks with Borussia Dortmund for forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis flew out to Dortmund over the weekend to try to force through a deal which would see Aubameyang follow his former teammate Henrikh Mkhitayran to the Emirates, following the latter’s arrival from Manchester United in a swap deal for Alexis Sanchez.

Dortmund are believed to be open to offers for their troubled striker who is currently serving his third disciplinary by the club in 12 months after failing to turn up to a team meeting last weekend, however the clubs are so far some way apart in their valuation of the player.

There are reports that Wenger would be willing to use Olivier Giroud as a makeweight in the deal but he insisted that negotiations between the two parties have not even got as far as that yet.

“At the moment we are not close to do any deals, either Aubameyang or anyone else,” he said. “The negotiations are not as close as that [including Giroud in deal].”

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Wenger spoke last week about not being able to afford the sort of wages clubs like Manchester United are able to offer but, when asked if the Gunners were to remain hamstrung in the transfer window, he insisted money is there to buy.

“We can buy players, we are busy on all fronts,” Wenger added. “Overall I think we are open-minded. Every opportunity we have to strengthen our squad we will take.

“You have to not forget that we have financial restrictions because we build the stadium. We have to respect the financial plan. We work very hard to become richer and we achieve it.”