Arsenal sets aside £53m for Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Arsenal are pressing ahead with a shock £53million move for Borussia Dortmund bad-boy Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

After Arsene Wenger's initial apprehension towards a move, Arsenal are now working to complete the deal for the Gabon striker who would replace Manchester United-bound Alexis Sanchez.

In hints of a change in power at the Emirates, Arsenal's newly-appointed head of recruitment Sven Mislintat is understood to be behind the latest move. He played a key role in bringing Aubameyang to Dortmund in 2013, ironically beating Arsenal to his signing. 

Wenger has held reservations about the striker but Mislinstat believes Aubameyang will respond to a change in environment.

Dortmund are open to selling Aubameyang this month after he fell out with the club's top brass. 

He was left out of the weekend draw with Wolfsburg after missing a team meeting. He was dropped last year for an unauthorised trip to Milan and was also absent for a match earlier this season after jetting off to Barcelona to visit former team-mate Ousmane Dembele.

Dortmund's general manager Michael Zorc said: 'What is going on now is not to be tolerated by the club. It is clear: it cannot go on like this. I don't know what is going through his mind. I don't recognise him anymore. There is trouble in the team and that is not good.' 

The fact Aubameyang is 28, leaving little hope of significant resale value, left members of Arsenal's hierarchy unconvinced. 

Likewise, having signed Alexandre Lacazette in the summer for a club record £52m, questions were asked over whether another central striker was necessary, but Arsenal are ready to take a chance on the former St Etienne man.

Because Mislintat worked with Aubameyang - and with an existing scouting dossier already in situ - little homework has to be completed on the striker, but there is plenty to be done before the deal can be completed.

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud could become a variable in the move. The German club tried to sign him in the summer but Giroud eventually decided to stay in London.