Arsenal failed with €90m Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang summer bid

Arsenal bid in excess of £80m for Borussia Dortrmund forward Pierre Emerick Aubameyang during the summer transfer window, according to one of the world's leading football agents. The north London club were desperately searching for a striker during the summer and opted at one stage to move for the Gabon international who is regarded as one of the hottest hitmen in Europe.

The 27-year-old netted 39 goals in 49 appearances in all competitions for Dortmund last term – including three times against the Gunners' rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League. Aubameyang has wasted little time getting into his stride this term, having scored 14 times in as many games, including a goal in each of the Bundesliga club's first three Champions League group matches.

Such form has seen Aubameyang become one of the most in-demand players in the global game and has been heavily linked with a move to traditional big-spenders Real Madrid, according to The Guardian. But Italian agent Vinceno Morabito says Arsenal made an audacious offer for the frontman, amid their interest in Leicester City's Jamie Vardy and the signing of Lucas Perez from Villarreal.

"Aubameyang?I laugh, I wonder how it could ever get him," he told Iamnaoples.it. "Some time ago I made a phone call to [Michael] Zork, sporting director of Borussia Dortmund, to talk about Aubameyang but the 'no' was absolutely categorical. I know that this summer Arsenal have offered €90m [£80.12m, $99.47m] for Aubameyang but Borussia did not want to learn anything.In the past, the striker was offered to the blues but Benitez preferred to Callejon."

Though Morabito has regularly made unsubstantiated claims regarding transfer deals, most notably when suggesting that Emmanuel Adebayor was close to joining AC Milan from Arsenal in 2008, the news that Arsene Wenger may have moved for Aubameyang is nevertheless a stunning revelation. The French boss has often been frugal and conservative in the transfer market but such an offer will encourage supporters he is will to splash the cash when necessary.