Aubameyang on standby ahead of £55 million Arsenal move

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has boarded a private jet to the UK as his move to Arsenal edges closer, Goal understands.

The 28-year-old, who is expected to take the number 14 shirt previously worn by Thierry Henry and Theo Walcott, was videoed arriving at Dortmund Airport with his family on Tuesday afternoon.

Aubameyang is on standby ahead of the £55 million, plus £5m in add-ons, transfer which will see the Gabon striker become Arsenal’s most expensive signing, overtaking the £52.5m purchase of Alexandre Lacazette last summer.

Negotiations between Arsenal and Dortmund have continued for several weeks with the deal hinging on whether the Bundesliga side can secure a replacement for Aubameyang in the closing days of the transfer window.

It is thought that the transfer will go down to the wire to due other deals being linked with the move, though Aubameyang is expected to undergo a medical while he is in London regardless of what happens elsewhere.

Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi is expected to head to the Westfalenstadion while talks continue with Arsenal over Olivier Giroud joining the Stamford Bridge side.

Giroud wants to leave Arsenal this month in a bid to secure regular playing time ahead of the 2018 World Cup.

His preference has always been to stay in London due to family reasons but Dortmund have discussed at length the possibility of bringing the Frenchman to Germany.

Arsenal are understood to be asking for £25m for Giroud, but will accept as little as £15m at this stage. As things stand, the striker is included in Arsenal's squad to face Swansea on Tuesday evening.

Should Chelsea fail to come to an agreement with the Gunners, Tottenham striker Fernando Llorente is also an option for the Premier League champions.

If Aubameyang completes his move to Emirates Stadium then Arsenal will be signing a 'top-class striker', according to Huddersfield Town manager David Wagner.

The forward has scored 13 top-flight goals this season for the German side and the former Dortmund assistant manager has no doubt regarding the striker's goalscoring ability.

"He will be top class. He is a top-class striker, goalscorer - he has everything," Wagner told Sky Sports.

"The club who will sign him can be very happy for sure. I really like this player."