Arsenal transfer news: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang exit reports 'nonsense' insists Borussia Dortmund executive

The Gabonese international has been subjected to reports linking him with Arsenal and Manchester United

Borussia Dortmund have dismissed reports that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is destined to leave the Westfalenstadion this summer, labelling the speculation as “nonsense".

The Gabonese international attracted interest from across European football last season, including from Arsenal and Manchester United, after scoring 39 goals in 46 appearances to help restore Dortmund’s place in the Champions League.

It has been reported that Aubameyang, 26, has been granted leave from international duty to secure a lucrative switch in the early weeks of the summer transfer window.

Barcelona and Real Madrid, La Liga and European Cup winners respectively, have also been linked with the powerful forward, but Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke has moved to dispel the rumours.

Quizzed on the subject by German sport daily, Bild, Watzke said: “That’s all nonsense.”

Despite signing a new five-year contract with the Bundesliga giants last year, Aubameyang remains likely to leave with £5.14bn of television money set to flood through the English game next season. Spanish clubs, too, are planning a summer of extensive recruitment to counteract the Premier League’s financial pull before it takes hold.

Upon agreeing new terms at Dortmund 12 months ago, Aubameyang said: “It was not for nothing that I prolonged my contract until 2020. It was a conscious decision. I can even imagine staying here for longer, even though I would like to play in Spain one day.

“In football, however, you never really know what will happen. Fundamentally, I feel so good here that I could not imagine a nicer place for me right now.”