Newcastle want Arsenal outcast Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on loan – with a view to a £20million summer deal.
The relegation-threatened Magpies have sounded out the Gunners about taking the 32-year-old striker for the rest of the season including an option to make the move permanent.
Aubameyang’s Arsenal days look to be numbered after he was stripped of the captaincy by boss Mikel Arteta last month for an alleged breach of discipline.
The Gabon star, who is now away on Africa Cup of Nations duty, has been banished from the first team and hasn’t figured since the 2-1 defeat at Everton on December 6.
Arteta allowed him to leave the Gunners early for the tournament as there was little chance of him figuring in the squad for Saturday's clash with Manchester City, which Arsenal lost 2-1.
Aubameyang seems unlikely to play for the club again, and could become the first marquee signing of the new Magpies ownership, as Eddie Howe's side continue to battle against relegation at the foot of the Premier League.
Many see the January transfer window as crucial to Newcastle's chances of surviving the drop, with attack a particular area of concern following injuries to Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin in the recent draw with Manchester United.
Speaking about potential transfers last month, Howe said: "Wait and see, I can’t give you promises on that at the moment.
“As I’ve said before, there’s people above me who are working and looking at that. My focus is the team. A lot of games coming up and that is where it has to be.
“But we’ll wait and see. January, as I said many many times, is notoriously difficult to predict and to have a clear plan at this moment is still virtually impossible because there’s twists and turns to come.
“The group of players we have here is my and has been my main focus, will continue to be my main focus because as you say, getting the best out of every single one of those players is the key to us staying up.”
.png?w=600)
