DORTMUND: Borussia Dortmund said Thursday they have had no contact with Arsenal amidst reports their star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is chasing a move to the Premier League giants.
Aubameyang’s father and agent Pierre has reportedly been in London this week to negotiate a transfer for the Gabon hot-shot.
According to German magazine Kicker, Dortmund want 70 million euros ($85.6m) for last season’s top-scorer in the German league.
Aubameyang has already scored 21 goals in 23 games this season, but was disciplined by the club last Sunday for the third time in 16 months after failing to attend a team meeting.
On Thursday, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger praised Aubameyang’s ‘strong character’, which did not go down well with Dortmund’s sports director Michael Zorc.
“We find it respectless to talk about a player from another club,” said Zorc, who added that Aubameyang has this week ‘trained well and is focused’ on regaining his Dortmund place.
“There has been no contact with Arsenal and we assume Arsene Wenger has enough to do worrying about the performances of his own players.”
Aubameyang had a contract at Dortmund until 2021.
It remains to be seen whether he is named in the starting side for Friday’s Bundesliga clash at Hertha Berlin.
Swedish teenager Alexander Isak, 18, made only his third German league appearance when he took Aubameyang’s place for last Sunday’s goalless draw at home to Wolfsburg, but the team struggled to finish their chances.
“He is definitely an option,” head coach Peter Stoeger said of Aubameyang.
“He could play, but it is obvious that he has to put his foot down in training and show up well.
“He can decide for himself, with his attitude, whether he will be considered and I plan on using him, if he works hard.”
Borussia Dortmund deny contact with Arsenal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Borussia Dortmund deny contact with Arsenal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
‘Winning mindset’: Yazeed Al-Rajhi ready to defend title at Dakar 2026
- Race runs from Jan. 3-17, will start and conclude in Yanbu
YANBU: Saudi rally star Yazeed Al-Rajhi is gearing up to defend his Dakar Rally title as the 2026 edition of the race kicks off in Yanbu on Jan. 3.
Last year’s victory confirmed Al-Rajhi as the first Saudi driver to win the overall car category (Ultimate), the highest class in what is considered the world’s toughest rally.
Al-Rajhi said: “We are approaching Dakar 2026 with great determination and an even greater sense of responsibility after our achievement in 2025. Winning the title was a historic moment, but the real challenge now is defending it. The car is fully ready, the team is working as one, and our objective from the start is clear: to fight for victory and secure a strong opening to the W2RC season.”
He highlighted the complete readiness of co-driver Timo Gottschalk as the team looks to repeat last year’s success in their Overdrive Toyota Hilux.
Gottschalk said: “The preparation for this season has been intense and extremely precise. We focused on every aspect Dakar demands in terms of concentration and discipline. Our synergy is at its best, and we are ready to manage the rally stage by stage, intending to fight for victory from day one.”
The Dakar Rally 2026, set to run from Jan. 3-17, will cover 7,994 km, with 4,840 km of timed stages across Saudi Arabia’s diverse landscapes. It will consist of 13 competitive stages, in addition to a prologue stage, with a rest day in the capital city. The rally will start and conclude in Yanbu, featuring seven loop stages and two marathon stages, which significantly increase the level of difficulty and place greater physical and technical demands on crews and teams.
Al-Rajhi has also expressed his desire to compete for the title of the World Rally-Raid Championship W2RC. Since the championship’s launch in 2022, he has finished runner-up twice and third overall once, highlighting his consistency at the highest level. The Saudi star said that his clear objective this season is to claim the W2RC title, with Dakar serving as the opening round of the championship.
Al-Rajhi acknowledged that competition this year will be extremely intense, but added that the goal has been clear from the outset: to defend the Dakar title and move forward steadily toward winning the World Rally-Raid Championship.
“Early preparation and attention to the smallest technical and physical details give us strong confidence heading into the rally,” he added. “We know the competition will be tough, but we enter Dakar with a winning mindset, aiming to deliver a complete season that reflects the name of Saudi Arabia and matches our global ambitions.”
Al-Rajhi extended his sincere gratitude and appreciation to Jameel Motorsport, his official partner, for their unwavering support. He credited their backing as one of the key pillars behind his continued success and achievements in the Kingdom.
