ARSENAL is still paying Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s astronomical wishes – despite ripping up his contract. The north Londoners parted company with the Gabon international earlier this week by mutual contest – which paved the way for him to join Barcelona on a free transfer.
But rather than pay the remainder of his contract in one lump sum, the Gunners have opted to dish out the remainder of his wages in instalments until the summer.
That’s according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, who told Sky Sports: “Arsenal are paying him in instalments until the summer, rather than a lump sum.
“That is very similar to what happened with Mesut Ozil when he left a couple of years ago and they split the wage with Fenerbahce.
“In this case, they are splitting the wage with Barcelona and Aubameyang’s taking a bit of a hit. “And then from the summer onwards it will just be Barcelona.
“And Aubameyang will be on a lower overall wage than he was earning at Arsenal. “So there were suggestions of £25m saved until the summer of 2023. It is a significant saving but not that much.”
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was unable to bring in a replacement for the once-prolific Aubameyang, who struggled for form after signing a bumper deal in September 2020.
But, according to Ornstein, it wasn’t for the lack of trying.
He continued: “They did try to get someone in. They explored Dusan Vlahovic, Alexander Isak. “Dominic Calvert-Lewin is also a player they like.
“But I don’t think they came particularly close to any deal before the deadline.”
Arsenal will begin life without Aubameyang on Thursday, travelling to Molineux to take on Wolves.
