Analysis

Will the Black Panther build a new Wakanda at Old Trafford?

Manchester United have reportedly approached Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to acquire his services at the end of the campaign and Arsenal have set a price of £30 million. But they will have to face a fight to secure his signature as he is attracting interests from a host of clubs including Chelsea, Inter Milan, Barcelona, and Real Madrid.

Even Arsenal aren’t letting him go and rumours are rife that they have even signed a new contract with the Gabonese. The Gunners boss Arteta revealed that he wanted to keep Aubameyang under any circumstances.

The striker has been in impressive form this season, scoring 20 goals from 32 games across all competitions. He also had a stellar 18/19 campaign, winning the Golden boot with 22 goals (The previous season was dominated by the Africans….Mane, Salah, Aubameyang…).

Aubameyang boasts a phenomenal scoring record for Arsenal – and he is one of the world’s most clinical strikers. Since making his league debut for the club, he has scored more than twice as many as any other Arsenal player during that time. He was highly praised by former England international Alan Shearer for his performances this season and even named him in his Team of the Season.

Four consecutive 20-goal seasons in an elite league and ready for a fifth once football resumes after the coronavirus break- it’s an exclusive club with only Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Aguero and Luis Suarez as its other members and yet Aubameyang’s name is never mentioned in the same breath as those other players.

United have the money and a better idea of where they can see the progress coming from. They can even lure him with a hike in salary. But Aubameyang would hope that his future better not be like Alexis Sanchez, who had a tumultuous time at Old Trafford. He would surely take note of how Alexis Sanchez’s career has spiraled since he left Arsenal to sign for United. He would even think that the prospect of being a part of a superstar reload would not do any good for him.

But Aubameyang even realises that scoring a barrage of goals for a struggling club wouldn’t allow him to win a major silverware. Even the Red Devils are struggling, but with players like Paul Pogba, Rashford, David de Gea, and Bruno Fernandes in their ‘arsenal’, adding the Gabonese will surely fill the attacking void left by Romelu Lukaku when he left for Inter Milan and will finally aid them in winning a major tournament after a brief hiatus. United have a good relationship with the Gunners having done business with them frequently in recent years (Sanchez and Robin Van Persie).

Even the President of Gabon Football Association Pierre Allan Mounguengui asked him to join a more ambitious club (ManUtd is definitely ambitious) to win more trophies.

Every team needs individual performances and the collective side of a team to emerge victorious. Can Auba rely on the United setup for a major trophy remains debatable but United will surely be bolstered by the inclusion of the Black Panther.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a big fan of his super speed and killer touches and even encouraged his young strikers to learn from his clinical finishes. United really need a player who can score 20-25 goals every season and Aubameyang fits the bill perfectly. His versatility and his speed allow him to line up anywhere up top as he has had success whether centrally located or on the wing. The attribute that has so many clubs interested in his services is his ability to finish.

He is one of the most underrated players in world football and United securing his signature for £30 million would be considered a spectacular coup. He is currently the Gunners’ most valuable player and acquiring him for anything less than £50 million would be a big steal.

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