Free Transfer to Barcelona for Aubameyang

The news this evening is a bit of a bombshell.

The news that Aubameyang was moving to Barcelona on loan until the end of the season has been around for a while. Every update seemed to point to the transfer been completed on deadline day, and this morning Aubameyang was reported to have travelled to Barcelona. Some news outlets compared his travel to Barcelona with the Odemwingie saga in 2013, ignoring the fact that the player has relatives in Barcelona and may have gone to visit his relatives.

The bombshell that has hit this evening is that the transfer of Aubameyang to Barcelona is a permanent transfer. Barcelona won’t pay a transfer fee and his high wages will removed from Arsenal.

On the face of it, the deal looks like a good deal. Disciplinary issues aside, Aubameyang has not been at his best this season, scoring only 4 Premier League goals. His weekly wage according to various sources is £350k a week. Not having his wages will save the club over £25m. That’s a huge saving, even for a club the size of Arsenal. The question has to be at what cost?

Arsenal are fighting for a top 4 spot with West Ham, Manchester United and Tottenham. Tottenham have strengthened and Manchester United already have a good squad. West Ham are playing well, but they have to be considered underdogs for the top 4 spot.

Aubameyang is the best finisher at the club and still has the qualities to help Arsenal make the top 4. The decision is made now. The club now needs to fight to make the top 4.

Editor’s opinion

In my opinion the club should have found a way to make manager and player work together until the end of the season. The collective objective must be above individual goals. Having Lacazette and Nketiah as the only strikers will make top 4 difficult for us. Eddie Nketiah may surprise everyone and score goals that will give us a real chance of making the top 4. I hope so. I wonder if Arteta and club would have made this decision if Aubameyang was the Premier League’s top scorer.