Aubameyang race hots up as Arteta gives Coutinho the Arsenal go-ahead

With the opening of the January transfer window a matter of days away, Mirror Football brings you all the latest on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Arsenal’s other transfer gossip

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Norwich City v Arsenal: Pictures

Arsenal put in a five-star performance on Boxing Day to once again prove that they have more than enough quality to cope in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s absence.

The Gabonese forward looks set to be offloaded by the Gunners when the January transfer window opens as the fallout from his disciplinary breach rumbles on.

However, there were no signs of any distractions on the pitch as Mikel Arteta’s men bolstered their Champions League hopes with a commanding 5-0 triumph over the Premier League’s basement club Norwich.

Next month looks set to be a busy one for Arsenal with a number of incomings and outgoings touted, and four players away on African Cup of Nations duty only increasing Arteta’s desire to add some reinforcements to the ranks.

With the opening of the January transfer window a matter of days away, Mirror Football brings you all the latest news coming out of the Emirates.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Who do you think Arsenal should sign in the January transfer window? Comment below

Arteta gives Coutinho go-ahead

Despite Martin Odegaard’s fine form of late, the upcoming loss of midfielders Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey to the AFCON means a potential move for Barcelona flop Philippe Coutinho is very much on the cards.

The former Liverpool man’s struggles in Spain have been well-documented and having been used sparingly by Xavi since his appointment, all signs are pointing to the Brazilian midfielder departing the Nou Camp in January.

According to SPORT, Arsenal appears a likely destination for Coutinho with the Gunners having reportedly asked about the conditions of a deal amid suggestions the player’s agents are ‘travelling to England’.

Further reports from Spain in the form of Fichajes.net add that manager Arteta has given ‘a resounding yes when approving the arrival’ of Coutinho, with a loan deal being touted.

With the cash-strapped Catalan club keen to free-up some wages, Barcelona are believed to willing to pay half of the 29-year-old’s pay packet with Arsenal, or any other potential suitor, expected to cover the rest.

Magpies planning Aubameyang swoop

Amid reports that Arsenal are keen to offload Aubameyang in the January transfer window following his latest show of misconduct, a number of clubs are believed to be showing an interest.

And the latest to join the long list of admirers is that of Premier League strugglers Newcastle.

According to SPORT, the recently-bankrolled Magpies, who were taken over by a mega-rich Saudi-backed consortium earlier in the season, are ‘in the mix’ for the outcast’s signature.

However, according to reports in Spain, Aubameyang’s preferred destination, should a much-speculated departure come to fruition, is not the north east, but Barcelona.

It remains to be seen if the cash-strapped Catalan club will pursue Aubameyang as they look to add to their striking options, but reports in Spain do claim that French club Lyon are another who are interested in offering the 32-year-old a way out.

Mourinho moves for Maitland-Niles

As speculation grows surrounding an Emirates departure for Aubameyang, another Arsenal player set to leave north London is the versatile Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

After publicly airing his frustrations following the club’s attempts to foil a move away in the summer, the 24-year-old was given assurances that minutes would come his way at Arsenal this season.

However, having been left out of Arteta’s latest seven Premier League matchday squads, it appears Maitland-Niles could well get his wish of a move away, albeit on loan.

Di Marzio are reporting that the five-time England international is on the verge of joining Jose Mourinho’s Roma on an initial loan deal with an option to buy, for a fee in the region of £8.5m in the summer.

In-the-know transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has corroborated the claims, acknowledging the advanced talks, as reports in Italy suggest an agreement is close, despite Arsenal holding out for a larger fee.

Should Maitland-Niles make the move to Roma, he will link up with fellow countrymen Chris Smalling and Tammy Abraham, who have been thrived since making the move to the Eternal City.