This article is part of Football FanCast's Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news...

Real Madrid are interested in signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and are reportedly going to offer a cash-plus-player exchange deal, according to Spanish outlet El Desmarque.

What's the word?

Aubameyang is a player in high demand and with his contract set to expire in June 2021 there are already clubs circling over a possible transfer at a bargain price.

Barcelona have emerged as one interested party but it seems that La Liga rivals Real Madrid may be in a better position, as they have reportedly readied a plan in order to make a move.

A fee of £70m is being rumoured along with the exchange of James Rodriguez, who has seen his role reduced in the last couple of years, joining Bayern Munich on loan last season and making only five starts this term.

The 28-year-old cost Los Blancos £71m back in 2014 which means the deal makes financial sense for the Gunners, whose £56m outlay on Aubameyang is being repaid by his 53 goals in 82 games.

Key to Arsenal

The Gunners have had a turbulent season so far and with no stability in place it would be a catastrophic move to let Aubameyang leave the club.

Arsenal's captaincy issue has already reared its ugly head this season and now the Gabon international has the armband it is vital that his leadership is held onto.

He is already a talismanic figure for the team - his double against Norwich and overall goalscoring record evidences that - and he will be imperative to any new manager who takes over because of his influence on and off the pitch.

Making a £14m profit on a 30-year-old who has provided quality service seems a good return, but the wider impact it would have on the club combined with the negative message it would send means that the club must avoid the temptation of selling.

Alexandre Lacazette has scored just four goals this campaign and the expensive Nicolas Pepe is underperforming, so there are few options who would be able to replicate Aubameyang's success, and any potential replacement would likely cost the club a great deal.

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