Arsene Wenger Discusses Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Transfer Rumours

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said the club are "not close" to a deal to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund amid reports they have had a recent bid rejected for the forward. 

According to Simon Stone of BBC Sport, the Gunners have had a second offer for the Gabon international turned down by the Bundesliga side said to be worth €50 million (£44 million).

Asked about the player on Wednesday following the team's 2-1 win over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, the Arsenal boss was giving little away, per Jack Rathborn of the Daily Mirror.

"Confident or not confident, I don't know," he said. "At the moment, we have done—we are not close to any deal with Aubameyang or anybody else. You never know how close you are. These are the kind of things—at the moment, is one of possible movements, but we have other things in mind as well."

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In addition, the Frenchman said Arsenal have "plenty of opportunities in different positions" in the transfer market.

According to Stone, the bid made by the Gunners is a long way below Dortmund's current valuation:

While Arsenal were able to land Henrikh Mkhitaryan as part of the recent deal that saw Alexis Sanchez join Manchester United, it appears Wenger is intent on adding more firepower to his squad.

Aubameyang is a signing that would excite supporters, as his goalscoring record has been among the best in European football in recent seasons. The striker makes use of his blistering pace, is smart in his movement and clinical in front of goal.

As these numbers from Squawka Football show, the Dortmund man is more effective in the final third than Arsenal's former No. 7:

Although he's made a difference on the field for BVB lately, off the pitch Aubameyang has never been too far from controversy.

Dortmund have already suspended him twice this season for his conduct, per Stefan Buczko of ESPN FC, and the striker missed a match in last season's UEFA Champions League for disciplinary reasons.

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Still, a coach of Wenger's pedigree will feel confident of channeling the focus of the 28-year-old, who is a devastating footballer at his best. Oliver Kay of The Times noted a number of clubs have opted against signing the forward in recent years with that in mind:

It would be intriguing to see where Aubameyang would fit in at Arsenal, as his arrival could trigger a change in system. After all, the Gunners broke their club record to sign Alexandre Lacazette in the summer, and Wenger only uses a solitary striker in his teams.

Aubameyang partnering with Lacazette, in theory at least, could be a nightmare for opposition defenders in the Premier League, although it appears there's a long way to go before that duo link up. While there are some doubts about the forward, there will be plenty who frequent the Emirates Stadium hoping to see this transfer completed.