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Real Madrid was offered Aubameyang in January
The Borussia Dortmund marksman completed a club-record move worth £56 million to Arsenal eventually and scored on his debut against Everton. However, Spanish football outlet, El Gol Digital, state that the Gabon international could have been playing at the Bernabeu instead.
As per the report, Real Madrid was offered Aubameyang for €10 million less than what Arsenal ended up paying. However, Madrid boss, Zinedine Zidane, already made up his mind by then to not make any January signings and rejected the deal. Further, the Los Blancos hierarchy was unimpressed by the 28-year old's methods to force through transfers and did not want to sign the player.
The move could have helped Aubameyang fulfill the promise to his grandfather, which he expressed a couple of years back after scoring in a Champions League group stage match against Madrid.
Meanwhile, former Chelsea player, Pat Nevin, has spoken about the striker and said:
“Personality-wise he is the most un-Arsenal type player I’ve ever come across. He is a strange unusual individual. I know he has been late for a few training sessions recently. That is a wee bit the way he is."
“I don’t think that’s the way Arsene Wenger and Arsenal have ever worked. He will have to adapt to Arsenal and Arsenal will have to adapt to him. I suspect he will have to adapt to Arsenal.”
It remains to be seen which club will end regretting the decision with the Arsenal fans hoping that they are the happy faces in the end.
Wenger keeping tabs on Riyad Mahrez
The Leicester City superstar has missed training ever since the failed deadline day move to Manchester City. The Citizens offered £60 million but Leicester City held out for a fee much higher than that. While Pep Guardiola could revisit the Foxes for the player in the summer, they are expected to face competition from Arsenal.
Gunners boss, Wenger, has been keeping tabs on the player, as per Starsport with the Frenchman enquiring about the attacker's character and training ethic. The report also states that Manchester United and Chelsea are monitoring the situation as well which could result in a bidding war in the summer for the 26-year old.
Meanwhile, Leicester manager, Claude Puel is waiting for the player to put the disappointment behind and report to training. In a recent press conference, Puel was quoted saying:
"After some time, he will come back with us. He is our friend and I think all the staff and all the players will help him to come back with a good mentality and a positive attitude and to enjoy his football with his team-mates."
"Riyad is a good player but he is a good man also. I respect him. It's important to manage this with calm inside the club. All the staff, especially all the squad, they are his friends. Of course, no problem when he will come back with us, with a good feeling for all the people."
It is important for Mahrez to come back and continue to deliver in order to prove to his suitors, including Arsenal, of his commitment.
Arsenal to revisit Malcolm in the summer
The Gunners were linked with the Brazilian in the January transfer window but eventually, the player remained at Bordeaux. Nevertheless, the Gunners are expected to revisit the winger in the summer, as per Evening Standard.
The news outlet's Chief Football Correspondent, James Olley, spoke about the possible transfer and said:
"Raul Sanllehi begins his new role as Arsenal’s head of football relations today and will begin the process of drawing up a list of transfer targets in the coming months. The Gunners have invested considerable resources in the attacking options and while they will be open to strengthening further in this area – Bordeaux winger Malcom is a possible target they could revisit."
Thus, the Gunners can try and sign the 20-year old in the summer to bolster their wings especially after the departure of Theo Walcott to Everton.
