Arsenal transfer rumours and news: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would cost £53.5m; Gunners dealt Granit Xhaka blow

Arsenal continue to be linked with a move for Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, despite the player twice claiming that a move to the Emirates is not on the cards.

The Gabon forward has spoken publicly to stress that he will stay with Dortmund through to the end of the season at least, but the Gunners are believed to be watching the 26-year-old in case he shows signs of wanting a move away.

However, Arsenal could well be put off by the apparent asking price, with Spanish journalist Kike Marin wrote on Twitter: “Borussia Dortmund want £53.5m for Aubameyang. Too much for Wenger!”

Another striker currently plying their trade in the Bundesliga that Arsenal have been linked with a move for is former Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez, although it’s claimed that Liverpool may also be in the hunt for the Mexico international should he try and push for a move away from Bayer Leverkusen.

Hernandez only joined Leverkusen in the summer after United manager Louis van Gaal made it clear that he did not feature in his plans at Old Trafford, but he has cropped up on the Arsenal radar after finding his goalscoring form in Germany.

According to reports in Spain though, that form has also caught the eye of Liverpool and Jürgen Klopp, and his seven goals in his last five outings could pave the way for a Premier League return. Arsenal currently have Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott available in attack, though an injury to either would leave Arsene Wenger short of options, although it remains to be seen if Hernandez would be willing to move to Arsenal and risk spending the bulk of his time on the bench as he did at United.

Arsenal have also been dealt a blow in their hopes of signing Switzerland international midfielder Granit Xhaka. Borussia Dortmund’s sporting director, Max Eberl, offered hopes that a deal could be made after admitting at the weekend that the right bid would force Monchengladbach into selling the 23-year-old.

However, that has since transpired to be an offer of £37.6m, and to make matters worse German newspaper Bild reports that Chelsea have expressed an interest in Xhaka and could rival Arsenal as well as Liverpool for the midfielder.

The likelihood though is that Xhaka will remain in the Bundesliga with Monchengladbach, with Eberl saying that his exit depended on a combination of the right price, the club’s level of success and how the player himself performs in the coming weeks.

“There are always situations where every club has to think of each option," Eberl said.

"It [a possible sale of Xhaka] depends partly on our sporting success. It depends on the performances of Granit and of course on the price.”