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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Marcus Banks

Former Arsenal FC player gives verdict on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Manchester United

Former Arsenal star Charlie Nicholas believes Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is unlikely to leave the Gunners for Manchester United after seeing Alexis Sanchez struggles at Old Trafford.

Sanchez left London for Manchester in 2018 but couldn't replicate the success Robin van Persie enjoyed when the Dutchman made the same move a few years earlier.

The Chile international failed to impress and was shipped out on loan to Inter Milan last summer, where he has flopped once more.

Aubameyang faces a similar situation to Sanchez and Van Persie, with his contract set to expire in the summer of 2021, and reports suggesting United are interested in securing his services.

Nicholas believes that Sanchez's dismal spell at United will make Aubameyang think twice about making the same move.

"It depends what people put down as a risk. If he was to go to Manchester United, does it help Arsenal? No, not at all," he told Sky Sports.

"If Aubameyang wants to leave, you ideally want him out of the Premier League. However, he is of a mind and age that I can see the dangers and understand comparisons with Van Persie. However, I think he will be thinking about what happened to Alexis Sanchez rather than Van Persie.

"Would he want to be a part of a superstar reload at Manchester United? Is there a great appeal to that? If it was Liverpool or Man City I would get it, but Manchester United are miles away from the top two. I do not see the appeal of moving to Old Trafford.

"Would he win the title with United in the next few years? I don't think so. He might not even be in the Champions League if he was to join so what is the real appeal? Is it salary? I don't think he is that type.

"Van Persie jumped to a massive salary, but Manchester United are not the same calibre as what they were then. Would he be the cutting edge for them? Maybe. But, like Arsenal, I think they have other issues to address.

"If Arsenal were to get £100m for him to go there, I would take that. Arsenal were once the challengers to United for the title, but now neither of them are. If Man Utd offer £100m for Aubameyang, sell him."

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