Should Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Leave Borussia Dortmund for Manchester United?
How many strikers Manchester United require this summer is debatable, but (no matter their prospective manager) the Red Devils need at least one world-class addition at centre-forward.
Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial cannot be the only options for a club meant to be one of England's best. The former is reaching the final stages of his career, while the latter's has just got going—something in the Goldilocks zone should be found.
If the Mail on Sunday's Rob Draper is accurate, executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward's ideal target for goals this summer is Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
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The 26-year-old has arrived in spectacular fashion on the world stage since his move from Ligue 1's AS Saint-Etienne in 2013, and he has taken his form to extraordinary levels in 2015/16.
Only rivaled by Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski for the Bundesliga's would-be Golden Boot, Aubameyang has netted 20 goals in 20 league appearances (averaging a goal every 86 minutes). Ironically, his reign as BVB's first-choice centre-forward was precipitated by the Poland international's move from the Westfalenstadion to the Allianz Arena, but, nonetheless, they are Germany's two hottest goalscorers.
Clinical strikers do not grow on those proverbial trees, therefore Aubameyang's recent displays have made him a target for club's around Europe. Manchester United, according to the Mail on Sunday's Draper, are prepared to offer £70 million for the Gabon international, which shatters their club-record signing of £59.7 million for Angel Di Maria.
Considering Lewandowski left Dortmund for nothing, the temptation of receiving £70 million for a player they spent (per ESPN FC) just €13 million/£11.2 million on three years earlier should exist—possibly even to the point of acceptance. If viewed through Aubameyang's eyes, however, moving to United seems far less tempting.
"30 up for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this season. This is a player criticised in the past for lacking an end product. Brilliant. #BVB
— John Bennett (@JohnBennettBBC) February 9, 2016"
It is impossible to argue Manchester United are not a bigger club than BVB, likewise that they can't pay their stars more than Dortmund could—the figures are apparent for any who cares to investigate.
If money is his motivation, then Aubameyang would be well within his rights to explore real estate in Manchester. Were he more interested, though, in playing for trophies—be they in Europe or domestically—Dortmund are the better club as it stands.
Barring an unmitigated disaster, Thomas Tuchel's side will qualify for the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League. Manchester United will be hard pressed to maintain a Europa League position in the Premier League (much less overtake one of the current top four sides) on current form.
The Confederation of African Football's current Footballer of the Year—following in the giant footprints of George Weah, Samuel Eto'o, Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and others—should be aspiring to play at the highest level of European competition (that being the Champions League) at all costs. Leaving a rising BVB tide for uncertainty at Manchester United puts that ambition in peril.
Dortmund are one or two world-class players away from legitimately competing for the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich; Manchester United need far more than two world-class players to overcome the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City in the coming seasons.
Not to portray Manchester United as a completely lost cause, as their model is build to spend big and win trophies, but, in Aubameyang's case, he would not be the single reason they start winning trophies again.
Until the Red Devils prove with other hires and signings they are prepared to return to English football's summit once more, the Gabonese centre-forward cannot become their test subject—especially when not leaving BVB is a perfectly viable (and logically sound) alternative.
If it is Aubameyang's lifelong dream to play in the red, white and black colours of Manchester United, then far be it from a writer to muddy his ambitions; but if not, Dortmund's black-and-yellow colours appear worth continuance.
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase where not noted.
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