For a while, it sounded like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would be making a long-expected exit from Borussia Dortmund. However, he is in a rather interesting position as a player. A talented forward with exceptional pace and great finishing attributes, ‘Auba’ is a favourite at BVB with his fellow teammates and the fans. However, he’s long held the desire to play for Real Madrid, or even to make a return to AC Milan and try once again in Italy.

The problem with this is, though, is that neither Milan or Madrid look to be interested. Speculative reports link him with a return to the San Siro, but they only appear in dispatches alongside far more concrete rumours for plays like Alvaro Morata or Andrea Belotti. For Aubameyang, the main link outside of this has been with Liverpool – which feels like a lazy link to his old coach, Klopp – and China, which he apparently is not too keen on heading out to.

As such, none of the links with Aubameyang feel legitimate, nor do they feel credible. As such, there is a significant gap in what is realistic and what is achievable. With none of the clubs who could afford him interesting him, and the other clubs who he could want to move to not interested, he could find himself staying in Dortmund for the time being.

It would be an interesting U-Turn, given a few months ago it was almost inevitable that this would have been his last year in the black and yellow of BVB. With very few options though it might be best to wait one more year – besides, he’s hardly at a small club!

Either way, it must be a shock that a player with his incredible goal scoring record cannot find an acceptable suitor.