Arsenal linked to Dortmund’s Aubameyang though may come up short

Arsenal, 4/1 with Coral to win the Premier League next term, are looking to step up their search for a striker and have earmarked Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre Erik-Aubameyang as a priority.

However his club Dortmund are determined to keep hold of the Gabon international, who scored 23 goals for the German side last season and their club sporting director Michael Zorc has emphasised this.

“We rely heavily on Aubameyang – that is no secret,” he said.

“I’ve heard a lot about this (a transfer to Arsenal) but I can say very clearly that it is blocked for him. He is simply not for sale.”

It is not the first time Zorc has had to issue a public statement, having recently made it clear that the 26-year-old was not for sale.

“Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a player of Borussia Dortmund and we do not have any plan to sell him. That’s a fact.”

This means that Gunners manager Arsene Wenger may have to look elsewhere, unless he is prepared to offer a lucrative amount, certainly at least £30m to land the player.

The North London outfit have only signed goalkeeper Petr Cech so far this summer and this alone could win the Premier League for them if everyone stays free from injury.

However, there have been suggestions that Wenger has a striker on his list, with the club struggling at times last term, often having to overuse Olivier Giroud and juggle injuries to the likes of Danny Welbeck. Theo Walcott was also sidelined for the majority of the last campaign, though his return was nothing short of spectacular.

His final three games yielded four goals, including a hat-trick and the opening goal in the club’s emphatic FA Cup final win over Aston Villa.

Should Wenger fail to find a suitable striker this summer, there is every evidence to suggest that Walcott could step into this role on a full-time basis.