As ever, this summer's transfer window has seen Manchester United linked with a whole host of potential incomings, with one shock target believed to be that of Barcelona forward, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

According to The Athletic on Monday, the Gabon international is a player that the Red Devils are keeping tabs on - as well as his current teammate Memphis Depay - with a new centre-forward recruit potentially on the cards should Cristiano Ronaldo depart in the coming days.

The former Arsenal talisman - who has also been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea of late - could well be moved on to help alleviate the ongoing financial turmoil at the Camp Nou, despite having only made the move to Catalonia from north London back in the winter window.

His time at the Emirates had come to something of an acrimonious end after a string of misdemeanours saw him handed the cold shoulder by manager Mikel Arteta, with the Spaniard taking the bold approach of dispensing his star player for the good of the team.

Quite why United would consider pursuing a potentially troublesome figure is uncertain, with the Old Trafford hierarchy seemingly set to be seduced yet again by another big-name player who is on the wane.

Previously dubbed a "maverick signing" upon his move to the Emirates, as per Matty Lawless, the 73-cap forward would no doubt be a similarly bold - and bizarre - incoming were he to join Erik ten Hag's side before deadline day.

Although the 33-year-old boasts an impressive career goal record - which includes 92 goals in just 163 games during his time with the Gunners - the baggage that comes with the £186k-per-week man is seemingly not worth the gamble, with the Manchester outfit having previously been stung by dishing out big wages to a fading force.

One such addition was that of another former Arsenal man, Alexis Sanchez, with the Chile international making the move to the Theatre of Dreams back in January 2018, assuming the club's famed, albeit cursed, number seven shirt upon his arrival.

Despite having been handed a reported £400k-per-week salary, the current Marseille man went on to score just five goals and provide nine assists in 45 games for the club in all competitions, proving himself a catastrophic and costly error for the club.

While signed at a younger age than Aubameyang, at 29 the forward was still no long-term option, with United having once again favoured the quick-fix over the more sensible, measured approach.

That has not just been the case with Sanchez, with the club having developed a knack for signing forwards who are past their prime, namely Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani and more recently, Ronaldo.

While that trio all enjoyed spells of impressive form, they are again mere short-term options, with Ten Hag now suffering as a consequence for the lack of a young striking addition at the club in recent times.

At a time when Manchester City and Liverpool have only recently signed the youthful, impressive striking duo of Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez, respectively, it epitomises the lack of vision at United that the club are potentially turning their attention towards an ageing and problematic, Aubameyang.

The Old Trafford outfit seemingly haven't learnt their lesson with Sanchez and the like, with bringing in players are perhaps looking for one last payday not often the wisest move.