Transfer Talk: Barca ready to offer Coutinho to land Aubameyang

Barcelona are interested in Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang — and are ready to use Philippe Coutinho as bait to land him. 

The Catalan giants are still picking up the pieces following the departure of Lionel Messi, with president Joan Laporta revealing they are £1.15billion in debt despite getting the talismanic Argentine off the books.

But with Ronald Koeman still needing to fill the goalscoring void left by Messi, Sky Sports report Aubameyang, 32, is seen as an ideal recruit — though it is unlikely an outright deal for the striker could be financed.

The LaLiga giants outfit are reportedly happy to offer former Liverpool playmaker Coutinho in part exchange to facilitate the move.

It would be a hammer blow for Mikel Arteta to lose his captain so late in the window but Arsenal have been trying to sign a creative midfielder and Coutinho fits the bill.

Both Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette missed Arsenal’s opening day defeat at Brentford through illness.

But while Sport initially indicated the Gunners had offered the pair to the Blaugrana, reports in Spain say the cash-strapped club are prioritising outgoings above arrivals.

PSG to go big to land Pogba

Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly willing to pay Paul Pogba a weekly salary of £510,000 to lure the Frenchman to the club next season. 

Pogba, 28, has just a year left on his Manchester United deal and it thought his preference is to see out his time at Old Traffford before leaving as a free agent. 

The Independent claim PSG will offer the mammoth pay packet to outmuscle any potential rivals for the Frenchman's signature.  

Pogba’s preferred destination is supposedly Spain but the financial struggles of both Barcelona and Real Madrid have been widely publicised. 

And PSG believe they can blow the pair out of the water with their monster offer.

Meanwhile, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not appear to have given up on keeping his man, with The Sun reporting Pogba is among five players the United boss wants the club to tie down to new deals.

Bruno Fernandes, Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire and Marcus Rashford are expected to sign on and Pogba could be the surprise fifth man to do so.

In other news

The Athletic claim Manchester City are among the clubs interested in signing 6ft 9in Solihull Moors striker Kyle Hudlin, who is Britain’s tallest outfield player.

Meanwhile, Harry Kane is hoping City will push ahead with a fresh bid to sign him next week, according to The Telegraph.

The Mirror state Martin Odegaard’s representatives have landed in London to thrash out a deal to join Arsenal for another season on loan from Real Madrid.

West Ham’s hopes of signing Jesse Lingard this summer have reportedly been handed a boost, with The Express reporting that United have lowered their asking price to £20m.