Newcastle to Compete with Arsenal for In-Form Ligue 1 Striker - Report

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley travelled to France with chief scout Graham Carr at the weekend in order to make a check on St Etienne striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The Gabon international was unable to get on the scoresheet but helped the club recover from 2-0 down to secure a valuable point against top of the table Paris Saint-German.

Newcastle have had great success in recent seasons by raiding the French league and in January managed to convince five players to make the move from Ligue 1 to the north east, including France internationals Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Moussa Sissoko.

It seems that Aubameyang may be the latest target after the Newcastle Evening Chronicle reported that Ashley and Carr, who has been instrumental in identifying talent across Europe, made the trip to the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

The paper suggests that the 23-year-old is interested in a move to St. James Park and was impressed that the owner of the club had travelled to France in order to see him in action.

However, it appears as though Newcastle will face stiff competition from Arsenal who are also believed to be interested in bringing the striker to the Premier League.

The Metro reported earlier this month that Arsenal's own top scout Gilles Grimandi had been to watch the striker in action as he scored in the 2-2 draw with Rennes.

This was Aubameyang's 16<sup>th league goal of the season and there is a belief that the Arsenal may now be considering an offer in the summer as Arsene Wenger looks to bolster his attacking options.

With Chelsea and Liverpool also said to be monitoring the striker, it seems there could be plenty of offers arriving at the end of the season.

Newcastle will hope that their French contingent will be an added attraction as they may find it difficult to compete with the drawer of Arsenal who are still battling for a place in the top four.

Aubameyang has suggested that he is ready to leave St-Etienne and appears to be interested in a move to PSG.

"I am ready to join a top club," said Aubameyang. "PSG? Of course an eventual offer would be interesting, but I don't know if they are really tracking me, we'll see. In any case, it would be nice to play next to Ibrahimovic."