Sky Italy: Arsenal expected to announce new contract in coming days after Aubameyang sends cryptic tweet
Sunday 16 August 2020 22:15, UK
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is close to ending speculation about his future by signing a new contract with Arsenal.
Sky Sports News reported last week how the Gabon Striker is nearing an agreement, with his current deal due to expire at the end of next season.
Sky in Italy are reporting that Aubameyang's new deal will be announced in the next few days, and the player himself sent out a cryptic tweet on Sunday showing an hourglass.
However, Sky in Italy are also reporting that his striker partner Alexandre Lacazette has emerged as a target for Juventus.
Speculation over Aubameyang's future has rumbled on throughout the season after he entered the final two years of his contract - something that appeared to contradict a club policy of either selling or renewing players with two years to go.
Yet he scored 22 goals in the Premier League in another excellent personal season for the ex-Borussia Dortmund attacker, and he netted twice in Arsenal's 2-1 win over Chelsea in Saturday's FA Cup final to restore questions about his future to the fore.
Since joining from Dortmund in January 2018, he has scored 54 goals in 85 Premier League games. He is now 31 years old, but Arsenal have just signed 32-year-old Willian on a three-year deal.
Speaking before the FA Cup final, Alexandre Lacazette said his future at Arsenal is not dependent on Aubameyang staying and, with two years left on his deal, said "no, we didn't talk about (a new deal)".
Before emerging as a target for Juve, he said: "Me, I'm just playing my games and finishing the season to see how it's going to be but we didn't talk about anything."
Lacazette and Aubameyang are close both on and off the pitch but the France international said his future at Arsenal is not entwined with that of the club's captain.
"No, because we know that Auba has a lot of discussions with the club and I can't put my future on someone else," he replied when such a scenario was put to him.
"When he came everyone knows we had a good relationship together. We always talk about everything, not only about football but everything in life. He's a good guy. That's why between us it became really easy."
"It's vital keep hold of him, but if Real Madrid or Barcelona were to show interest in him at his age, and he wants to go, he'll go. We had to let the best I've seen in an Arsenal shirt - Thierry Henry - go because he wanted to join Barca.
"Personally, I think it is as there's very little guarantee in football but the guarantee he gives you when he's fit is goals. Goals for Arsenal is the main ingredient in the way they play. Arsenal's duty now is to fix a defence that has been weak for the past six or seven years.
"Gradually, I think Arteta will do that, but the club are still being held to ransom a little bit [over Aubameyang]. If Arsenal are to finally get this [contract] over the line, you give him what he wants, and then Aubameyang still becomes a sellable asset if he then wants to leave in a year.
"But if we run it down, as we did with Aaron Ramsey, you're just holding on to someone who isn't entirely committed to the cause. I'm hopeful now that Aubameyang will re-sign - Arsenal, get it over the line! It would be as big a boost as winning the FA Cup. That's how big it would be."
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