Arsenal pick three Barcelona players they want in swap deal for strike duo
Arsenal have identified the three players they want from Barcelona in exchange for their strike pair Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, a report has claimed.
It was reported on Sunday that the duo had been added to Barca’s wish list of strikers should they offload their current number nine Martin Braithwaite. The Denmark international is not a favourite of manager Ronald Koeman. The Dutchman admitted in a recent press conference he wanted a new forward.
However, as a result of the severe financial difficulties the Catalan club currently find themselves in, they cannot afford to fulfil their manager’s wishes.
Braithwaite must first depart. West Ham have been the side most strongly linked with a move.
But even if that does materialise, the Spanish giants will still only be able to afford a swap deal for a new acquisition.
This is something that the Gunners are said to open to for both Aubameyang and Lacazette.
Both men are 30-years-old+. They also have two years and one year left on their contracts respectively.
And now the players the north London side want in return have been revealed by Sports Mole.
They suggest both men could be on their way to the Nou Camp if Barca can shift Miralem Pjanic and Samuel Umtiti as well as Braithwaite.
Arsenal will only proceed with a deal on this basis if they are to receive goalkeeper Neto, centre-back Clement Lenglet and attacking midfielder Phillipe Coutinho.
All three of those are positions that the Gunners would benefit from strengthening.
Current shot stopper Bernd Leno hasn’t been fully convincing in net, whilst centre-back has been a problem position.
Coutinho, meanwhile, was one of the Premier League’s best players before his nightmare switch to Spain. He’s reportedly angling for a return to England.
Arsenal outcast also on his way
In other Gunners news, the club will offer midfielder Lucas Torreira a choice of two escape routes. One of those would come with a degree of irony, according to reports.
Torreira is on the lookout for another new club after leaving Arsenal on loan for Atletico Madrid last season.
Although Atleti won La Liga, Torreira did not particularly enjoy his time in the Spanish capital. He only started three league games across the entire season.
Torreira is ready to find another new home. He initially thought about returning to South America. But it seems he will be staying in Europe in an interesting turn of events…
READ MORE: Ironic element involved as Arsenal outcast offered to two arch-rivals
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