Real Madrid using James Rodriguez to pursue Aubameyang?

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been linked with Real Madrid on-and-off over the past couple of years, and while it doesn’t make as much sense for the club to want him now that he’s 30, that hasn’t stopped the transfer rumors from swirling.

Real Madrid have a two talented strikers in Karim Benzema and Luka Jovic. The former has seven goals in La Liga this season and remains a world-class forward with a well-rounded skill-set, while Jovic recently scored his first goal for Los Blancos and is seen as one of the most talented young poachers in world football after registering among the Bundesliga’s leading scorers in 2018-2019.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a man familiar with being a top scorer in Germany, and he’s also familiar with being linked to Real Madrid in transfer rumors. There are so many conflicting reports as to whether or not Aubameyang, who is currently Arsenal’s best player, “dreams” of playing for Los Blancos.

The rumors linking Aubameyang to Real Madrid are back, as El Desmarque’s Manuel Valcarce reports that Florentino Perez is still interested in the free-scoring striker. Per the report, Arsenal will have to monitor other offers for Auba, but their asking price could be around 80 million euros.

But that’s not the only interesting aspect of the report. El Desmarque also claims that Perez is willing to use James Rodriguez to sweeten the deal, as this would drop the cash fee for Aubameyang. Arsenal manager Unai Emery is said to be interesting in adding James, who could replace Mesut Ozil if the Gunners are able to find a suitor for the No. 10 whom they’ve treated so strangely this past year.

Emery’s opinion may be irrelevant since it is difficult to see him remaining in London beyond 2020. Furthermore, it’s questionable if Arsenal would want James, as he’s yet another attacking midfielder. Then again, it’s unclear if they’ll be able to sign Dani Ceballos permanently after this season and Ozil doesn’t seem to have a long-term future in the club, so James could be a talented piece in a playmaking role.

Aubameyang is still one of the world’s best strikers and is a genius off the ball who is automatic in front of goal. But he’s also 30, not cheap at 80 million euros (Real Madrid need to save up for Kylian Mbappe, after all), and would be joining a team that already has Benzema and Jovic. Auba is arguably a better player than Benzema, but Benzema’s skill-set and importance to Real make it highly unlikely for him to be replaced by anyone other than Jovic down the road.