Arsenal Transfer News: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Deal Close, Latest Rumours

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger apparently won't wait long to refresh his squad following the dismal 3-1 defeat to Monaco in Wednesday's UEFA Champions League last-16 first leg. The Gunners chief has already started making plans to sign Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Spanish website Fichajes.net (h/t Metro reporter Jamie Sanderson) states Arsenal are the "front-runners" to sign the player, and Dortmund will sell for £29.2 million. The Bundesliga club are a long shot to make next season's Champions League. They currently reside in 12th place, per the league's official site.

A failure to return to Europe's marquee club competition will apparently see Dortmund lose a host of stars, including Aubameyang. While his asking price is steep, it's one certainly worth paying for the Gunners.

Aubameyang has that quality Arsenal need more of: pace. In fact, the Gabon attacker is electric across the ground. He also makes intelligent runs between the lines.

Speed and subtle movement are the core principles of the attacking game Wenger favours (at least when his teams play it best).

In recent seasons, lumbering target man Olivier Giroud has led a more static forward line. Things were supposed to change this season with the arrivals of Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck.

But things hardly looked better against Monaco. It was a game where the notoriously wasteful Giroud plumbed new depths, as these statistics from Squawka Football indicate:

That nightmare outing could prove to be the death knell for Giroud's Arsenal career. Few would complain if Wenger opted for a different kind of striker.

Aubameyang is certainly the type of fleet-footed, roving front man Wenger has traditionally favoured. This also isn't the first time the Gunners have been linked with the 25-year-old.

Wenger pursued the player back in 2013 when he was starring for St Etienne, per MailOnline reporter David Kent. Since then, Aubameyang has progressed significantly.

Aubameyang has become such a better player that it is almost tough to believe Dortmund will be willing to part ways with him this summer. He's scored 15 times and provided six assists for the German club in all competitions this season, according to WhoScored.

Those are solid numbers and evidence of Aubameyang's growing value. However, an offer so close to £30 million would be tough for any team to refuse.

Wenger may justify it not only based on Giroud's struggles but also Theo Walcott's uncertain future. The England winger will enter the last year of his current deal this summer.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

The Gunners have already started talks aimed at agreeing a new contract, per Daily Mirror reporter Steve Stammers. But the player's injury history and desire to play through the middle more often could tempt both sides to call it a day.

In that scenario, Aubameyang would be an ideal replacement as a quick and versatile attacker capable of playing anywhere along the front. Even if Walcott stays, the Dortmund man would be a good addition to a trio completed by Sanchez, giving Arsenal a swifter, more fluid forward line.