Arsenal are determined to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal have told Borussia Dortmund they are willing to include Olivier Giroud as part of the deal to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, according to reports.

Arsene Wenger is a known admirer of Gabon superstar Aubameyang and wants to bring him to the Emirates during the remainder of the January transfer window.

The Gunners are in talks with Bundesliga giants Dortmund over a move but are currently not prepared to pay €70m. As a compromise, they are ready to offer French striker Giroud plus a substantial cash sum, according to the Independent.

Giroud, 31, has started just one Premier League game this season, forced to play back-up to the likes of Alexandre Lacazette and Alexis Sanchez.

He was close to joining Everton last summer and may be open to a move to Germany in order to gain more regular first-team football ahead of the World Cup finals in Russia next summer.

Amid speculation linking Aubameyang with a January move, the 28-year-old was left out of Dortmund’s squad to face Hertha Berlin on Friday.

Up Next

Arsene Wenger is reportedly willing to use Olivier Giroud to sign the Gabon star (Picture: Getty)

‘Aubameyang is training in Dortmund,’ said sporting director Michael Zorc. ‘At the moment we get the impression that his mind is on other things and he isn’t completely focussed.

‘Which naturally raises the question of whether he can help us in Berlin.’

Wenger, usually coy over Arsenal’s transfer targets, was more open when discussing Aubameyang at his pre-match press conference this week.

Asked whether a character like Aubameyang would fit in at Arsenal, Wenger responded: ‘Yes, because character can be very positive and very negative.

Arsene Wenger’s comments did not go down well with Dortmund (Picture: Getty)

‘Overall you look at the achievement of a player over their career and usually his character has been used in a positive way.’

Dortmund chief Zorc took offence to Wenger’s comments, however, saying: ‘We find it disrespectful to speak about players of other clubs. There is no contact with Arsenal.

‘We assumed that Arsene Wenger would have enough to do to take care of the performances of his own players!’

MORE : Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan deals underline Arsenal’s muddled management