Arsenal skipper Aubameyang poised for shock move to Barcelona as he and Arteta fall out

ARSENAL skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could be on his way to Spanish giants Barcelona after the two clubs opened talks about a transfer that would involve former Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho going to the Emirates in part-exchange.

Last year, Aubameyang, 32, put pen to paper on a new three-year deal with the Gunners, which will last until 2024. Aubameyang, who missed Arsenal’s opening-day Premier League defeat at Brentford on Friday, joined the club for £56m in January 2018, scoring 14 goals for last season as Mikel Arteta’s side missed out on European qualification for the first time in 25 years.

However, Arsenal are now willing to offload their captain amid claims he and manager Arteta do not see eye-to-eye. Aubameyang has struggled for form since signing a bumper new contract last summer, scoring just 10 Premier League goals last season.

Sport analyst Alex Crook, said: “There were whispers I heard that he and Arteta don’t necessarily see eye-to-eye. Martin Keown was on the White and Jordan show on Friday trying to be diplomatic but he did say he’d heard the manager around the training ground has a bit of an ego and isn’t necessarily universally popular.”

Arsenal have been very busy in the transfer market having signed Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga as well as England defender Ben White for £50m. However, there have been a few setbacks this summer as they look set to miss out on Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham while a deal for Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has also fallen through.