Manchester United join Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang transfer chase with Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea

The French-born Gabon international is rated at £42million after scoring 22 goals in 18 games for Borussia Dortmund this season

Pierre pressure: Dortmund know they face a fight to hang onto in-demand Aubameyang

Manchester United have entered the big-money battle for Borussia Dortmund star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The striker, whose goal celebrations have seen him don Spider-Man and Batman masks, has emerged as one of Europe’s deadliest front-men and the race to try to prise him out of the Bundesliga club is hotting up.
United boss Louis van Gaal is determined to win the scrap for Aubameyang, who currently has a £42million price-tag.
Van Gaal has had the 26-year-old watched several times this season and is now ready to firm up the Old Trafford giants' interest.

Aubameyang has bagged 22 goals in just 18 games for Dortmund in the current campaign - including 17 in 14 league matches.
As well as the goal threat, the former Monaco and Saint Etienne striker possesses the pace Van Gaal admits his side desperately need.

Capable of playing wide or up front, France-born Gabon international Aubameyang - a finalist for BBC African Footballer of the Year - is also the type of “multi-functional” player the former Bayern Munich coach likes.
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His current deal, signed in the summer, doesn’t expire until 2020, but Van Gaal is considering testing Dortmund’s resolve as early as January.
Although the Germans are expected to knock back any bids that arrive then, there is an acceptance there that if he continues scoring at his current rate there may be little they can do to hold onto him next summer.

Barcelona are also in the hunt for Aubameyang and have run the rule over him this season.
He is also on the radars of Arsenal and Chelsea.