Wenger rules out Welbeck move and says Arsenal are ‘not close’ to Aubameyang deal

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Arsene Wenger says Arsenal are currently “not close” to agreeing a deal to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

It comes amid reports Borussia Dortmund want around £60m plus Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud if they are to sell the Gabonese striker to the Gunners.

Asked if he is confident of signing Aubameyang, Wenger said: “Confident, I don’t know. At the moment we are not close to doing any deals with him or anybody else.

“You never know how close you are. At the moment it’s one of the possible movements. The final decision is not made.”

Speaking at a press conference, Gunners boss Wenger declared that his club are getting a top player in Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Mkhitaryan has arrived from Manchester United as part of the deal which took Alexis Sanchez to Old Trafford.

It brought an end to a long-running transfer saga, during which Sanchez had been tipped to join Manchester City.

“I believe we lost a world class player and gain a world class player,” Wenger said.

“Overall I think Mkhitaryan has the qualities to integrate into our game. He has a good team attitude as well. I’m confident it will work.

“He can play in all kinds of positions. He is very versatile and it should help us going forward.”

Wenger also ruled out a move for Danny Welbeck, who has been linked with Turkish club Besiktas.

“I want Danny to stay here,” he said.