Arsenal have been linked with a move for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for weeks following Alexis Sanchez’s departure to Manchester United.

Negotiations between the German side and the Gunners are said to have stalled and Arsene Wenger claimed today the deal was “far from close”.

However, the north London club appear to be the only side chasing the Gabon international this month.

And Alan Shearer had admitted he is stunned by the fact and cannot believe Aubameyang would choose to leave Dortmund for Arsenal.

“Yeah I am [surprised] when you look at his goalscoring record,” Shearer said.

“He’s 28 years of age, by the sounds of it he hasn’t got a clause in his contract and when you look at the number of clubs that need a goalscorer.

“And the fee being £40-£50m, which in today’s transfer market is relatively cheap for a guy with his goalscoring record.

“So yeah, I’m pretty surprised he’s picking Arsenal.

“They aren’t in the Champions League.”

However, if the Gunners do manage to pull off a deal for Aubameyang, Shearer thinks Wenger could consider it a very successful transfer window.

“If they were to have [Henrikh] Mkhitaryan and to get Aubameyang with his goals then it would be a decent transfer window for Arsenal,” he added.

Wenger, meanwhile, attempted to play down the speculation in his press conference and claimed a deal for the Dortmund star is “far from close”.

“I cannot tell you more,” he said.

“We have nothing to announce. At the moment, we stay where we are. We keep our players. 

“We have added Mkhitaryan and lost Sanchez. Will anything else happen? At the moment, I don’t know.

“It is far from close. It is possible we will recruit someone else but I won’t give you a name.”