'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the story?
Mundo Deportivo report that Real Madrid will try to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January after deeming that there is a strong chance they could sign him due to the deterioration in relations between him and his current club, Borussia Dortmund.
They have been linked with multiple strikers such as Mauro Icardi and Harry Kane, but Florentino Pérez has decided that Aubameyang is the most suitable target.
In case you didn't know...
The Gabonese striker has been in superb form this season with 20 goals in 22 appearances across all competitions as well as three assists. He was the top goalscorer in the Bundesliga last season with 31 goals in 2782 minutes, so he was averaging a goal a game which is impressive.
The heart of the matter
Aubameyang looked to be moving away in the summer, but an offer never seemed to materialise even though there was plenty of interest. Dortmund appeared to be progressing initially under Peter Bosz. However, that soon fell apart and he was sacked. The club is attempting to salvage the season after a poor run of form, but it appears as if they are going backwards as a club especially because key players such as Ousmane Dembélé were sold in the summer.
This disappointment as well as the club's humilitiating Champions League campaign means that Aubameyang wants to go somewhere else where there is a more realistic chance of winning silverware.
Real Madrid are looking for another top striker because of the misfiring Karim Benzema. They believe they need a proper No. 9 to lead the line because they are creating plenty of chances in games this season, but conversion is their major issue. These goalscoring issues have led to a lack of confidence in Zinedine Zidane's methods, which has affected their fluidity and further exacerbated the problem.
Author's take
There is a genuine chance that this move could happen in January because Dortmund are in disarray and having an unhappy player in the squad isn't going to help morale. The Europa League and the DFB-Pokal are their only shots at silverware this season, so moving to a club such as Real Madrid obviously looks appealing.
He wouldn't be able to play in the Champions League for them this season. However, he could have a vital role in the league which would allow Zidane to rotate strikers like he did last season with Karim Benzema and Álvaro Morata.
The European champions have clearly lacked a goal threat from the bench, as well as in games against the smaller teams when Zidane likes to rotate his squad, due to the sale of Morata. Therefore, Aubameyang could fill that role perfectly because he is a poacher and Los Blancos' lack of clear system wouldn't hinder him due to his technical ability.
