Dortmund tell Arsenal: Pay up or Aubameyang will stay

Ian Watson

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc says Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang accepts that he will not be sold unless Arsenal meet the Bundesliga club’s demands.

Arsenal have failed with at least two offers for Aubameyang as they seek to bolster their forward line following the exits of Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez, while Olivier Giroud also looks set to leave.

Dortmund are said to want at least £50million for the Gabon striker, but Arsenal have come nowhere close to that sum with their last offer of £43.6m rebuffed.

Aubameyang is keen to move but Dortmund insist they will not be blackmailed as Wednesday’s deadline approaches.

Zorc says they have made their demands clear to Arsenal and if they are not met, Aubameyang’s camp accepts the forward will remain at the Westfalenstadion.

“We are prepared to implement a transfer under certain parameters – but only if these parameters are fully met,” said Zorc.

“Arsenal has started several attempts so far. We have all rejected so far.

“Either our demands are fulfilled, then there can be another transfer or else they will not be fulfilled and Auba will play in Dortmund until the summer, so it is also discussed and accepted by the Aubameyang family.”

Aubameyang was named in Dortmund’s starting XI for their Bundesliga clash with Freiburg on Saturday.