Arsenal Transfer News: 2nd Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Bid Rejected, Top Rumours

Borussia Dortmund rejected a second bid from Arsenal for striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on Wednesday, according to BBC Sport's Simon Stone. The Gunners offered £43.64 million (€50 million), which the Bundesliga club "turned down immediately."

Stone revealed Dortmund will only sell if they receive a bid of more than £50 million. He also pointed out how Arsenal's second offer, although short of the valuation, didn't include France striker Olivier Giroud as part of the deal.

However, James Olley of the London Evening Standard had a different take on the figures earlier on Wednesday. He noted the Gunners's second bid exceeded £50 million but was short of Dortmund's £55 million valuation.

Olley also said Arsenal remain wary of paying more than the £52.7 million invested in Alexandre Lacazette this summer. As for Giroud, the Evening Standard writer reported how Dortmund have been on the former Montpellier star's case since last summer.

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Dortmund manager Peter Stoger has cast further doubt on Aubameyang moving to north London, by saying the Gabon international could start against SC Freiburg on Saturday, per James Whaling of the Daily Mirror.

Aubameyang missed the recent game against Hertha Berlin as speculation he will leave Germany this month intensified.

Despite the apparent setback, the chances of Arsenal eventually signing Aubameyang remain solid. Jeremy Wilson and James Ducker of the Daily Telegraph reported the Gunners will pay closer to £50 million, even though Dortmund want around £60 million.

There is no doubt Aubameyang would be an asset in manager Arsene Wenger's squad, despite the presence of Lacazette, Giroud and Danny Welbeck. The 28-year-old offers greater pace than all three and is more prolific, having netted 21 goals in all competitions.

Aubameyang also has a good rapport with Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the Armenia international who joined Arsenal on Monday as part of the deal to send Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United. The two played together for three seasons at BVB.

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Signing Aubameyang would be a coup for attack-minded Wenger. Even so, striking a deal is looking increasingly difficult, with Stone saying "the Gunners must now decide whether to pursue their interest in the forward or, with only a week of the transfer window remaining, pursue alternative targets."

Wenger recently revealed Arsenal have other targets in mind, per Goal's Stephen Darwin.

However, walking away from a deal for a striker with Aubameyang's record would be a tough sell for Wenger to make to Arsenal fans.