Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang January Move Reportedly Contingent on Olivier Giroud

Borussia Dortmund will reportedly only let Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leave for Arsenal in January if the Gunners include Olivier Giroud as part of the deal.

According to the Mirror's John Cross, the Bundesliga outfit are hoping for £60 million for the striker, but they're also prepared to dig their heels in until the summer as they do not want to be left short up front with a UEFA Champions League place on the line.

Aubameyang has agreed terms with Arsenal, while Giroud is said to be receptive to a move as he seeks game time ahead of the World Cup.

The France international is behind compatriot Alexandre Lacazette at the Emirates Stadium, and he'll only slip further down the pecking order if Aubameyang were to arrive.

Football.London's Greg Johnson believes Giroud would do well at the Westfalenstadion:

However, allowing him to leave as part of the deal presents the Gunners with a dilemma as Aubameyang and Lacazette are two strikers in a fairly similar mould, with their electric pace and clinical finishing core to their game.

Aubameyang's quality means he's still probably worth pursuing despite their similarities given Arsenal need to replace Alexis Sanchez, but Giroud—even if he is perhaps not quite as prolific as the other two—offers a different dimension to their attack.

Football writer Michael Cox noted as much:

Arsenal will have to choose between upgrading their starting lineup at the expense of crucial squad depth or risk missing out on Aubameyang in the summer.

Giroud should not be easily dismissed given what he can offer, but Aubameyang could also give them a much-needed boost for the second half of the campaign as they target Champions League football.

It's far from a simple choice and Arsenal need to get it right.