Arsene Wenger could be forced to let Olivier Giroud join Chelsea to make the Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang deal happen.
Arsenal have agreed a £58m record deal with Borussia Dortmund to sign Aubameyang but the German club are adamant they will not let him go unless they get a replacement.
Chelsea are leading a THREE way chase for Giroud - alongside Sevilla and Dortmund - but Arsenal have been reluctant to do business with a top four rival.
However, Arsenal are stuck in a transfer merry-go-round as they look to get Aubameyang over the line with the Dortmund striker having already agreed personal terms on a £180,000-a-week contract at the Emirates.
That could yet force Arsenal to do a deal with Chelsea for Giroud with the Gunners demanding £35m for the France striker who yesterday trained with the first team and is expecting to be in the squad to face Swansea on Tuesday.
Dortmund have looked at Giroud as a replacement for Aubameyang but fear his family do not want to move to Germany and Mirror Sport understands he may yet decide to stay at Arsenal before deciding on his long term future in the summer.
Giroud is open to a move to Chelsea but fears Arsenal will block it, although the Aubameyang twist gives him fresh hope.
Dortmund’s other options are Chelsea’s out-of-favour striker Michy Batshuayi and also former Cologne forward Anthony Modeste who is now in China. It is believed Batshuayi has agreed terms with Dortmund.
But Chelsea will not allow Batshuayi to go unless they get a replacement and yesterday Roma pulled the plug on their £30m deal for Edin Dzeko. Chelsea boss Antonio Conte wants another striker to back up first choice Alvaro Morata.
It has set up a frantic last 48 hours of the transfer window with Arsenal still sweating on Aubameyang even though the player is desperate to move to the Emirates.
Aubameyang missed Monday's court hearing in Germany over the terror attack on the Dortmund team bus last April.
The Gabon striker insisted it was because he was ill but that is believed to have annoyed the club and his team mates and is being seen as another clear sign that he is off to Arsenal.