Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang transfer to go down to the wire as Arsene Wenger admits 'it's complicated'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger accepts getting a deal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pushed through ahead of the transfer deadline was always likely to prove "complicated".

The Independent understands there is an agreement in principle between Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund for the Gabon forward, who was widely reported to have travelled to London on Tuesday to finalise a potential £60m switch.

However, there is the added issue of Dortmund first seeking assurances over a replacement - which could well be Michy Batshuayi from Chelsea, themselves looking to bring in Gunners forward Olivier Giroud.

The France striker came off the bench during the 3-1 Premier League defeat at Swansea on Tuesday night, after which Wenger was pressed on whether he was confident of completing a deal for Aubameyang before the 23:00 deadline on January 31.

"Every detail can make deals and the deals nowadays are so complicated that, so long as you have not finished it, you cannot be too confident - it doesn't help too much," the Arsenal manager said.

Wenger, though, did concede Giroud was likely to have played his last game for Arsenal as the France targetman goes in search of more regular first-team football to boost his own World Cup hopes.

Giroud would fall further down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium were Aubameyang to come in.

It now appears Stamford Bridge is the striker's preferred destination, allowing Giroud to remain in London, with a fee of around £18m suggested.

With the German transfer window set to close at 17:00 on Wednesday, significantly earlier than in England, there could yet be some last-minute negotiating between a number of parties to push the Aubameyang deal through.

Blues boss Antonio Conte, however, stressed Belgium forward Batshuayi may yet feature in the Premier League match against Bournemouth on Wednesday evening - which would throw up another knock-on effect to any potential transfer merry-go-round ahead of the deadline.

Chelsea boosted their own defensive options on Tuesday night, with the arrival of Emerson Palmieri from Roma eventually confirmed via the club's official channels after pictures of his signing alongside director Marina Granovskaia had earlier emerged on social media.

Premier League leaders Manchester City also moved to strengthen their squad on Tuesday with a club-record signing of defender Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao.

The 23-year-old, a France Under-21 international, has joined City on a deal until 2023 which is understood to have cost some £57m and he could feature against West Brom on Wednesday.

City boss Pep Guardiola, though, could yet look to push through some more late business.

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It’s understood there is interest in Leicester playmaker Riyad Mahrez after the blow of losing Leroy Sane to injury.

Tottenham, meanwhile, should complete the £25m signing of Lucas Moura from Paris St Germain after the Brazilian arrived at Spurs' Enfield training base on Tuesday morning.

PA