Barcelona have reached a verbal agreement with Arsenal, subject to contract, to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Athletic understands the striker is poised to sign a six-month deal, with the option for an additional year, that will end his time as an Arsenal player.
He will undergo a medical on Monday night ahead of the transfer deadline.
It was reported on Sunday that Barcelona were close to reaching an agreement with Arsenal to sign Aubameyang, having revealed last week that they and Juventus had made official approaches to the north London club.
Barcelona head coach Xavi is understood to have identified Aubameyang as his primary target to strengthen at the top of the pitch this month and he plans for the ex-Borussia Dortmund forward to slot into the team in the No 9 position.
Joining the five-time European champions resolves the problems that have arisen between Arsenal and Aubameyang since he was stripped of the captaincy and made to train alone after returning late from a sanctioned trip to France in December to collect his unwell mother.
While Barcelona had space for a new striker, Juventus doing business was dependent on Alvaro Morata leaving and it appears he will stay in Turin to complete a front three with Paulo Dybala and the recently-arrived Dusan Vlahovic.
That gave the La Liga giants a clear run as despite interest from Saudi Arabia, which Arsenal would have preferred. Aubameyang’s preference was to keep operating at the highest level in Europe.
The situation was handled from Arsenal’s perspective by technical director Edu and taken in conjunction with manager Mikel Arteta, the executive leadership and board.
Barcelona have already taken steps in the market to strengthen their attack, with Ferran Torres and Adama Traore brought in from Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively.
Aubameyang swapped Dortmund for Arsenal in January 2018 and put pen to paper on a three-year contract extension in September 2020, which means he is still tied down for another 18 months.
He has scored seven goals in 15 games across all competitions this campaign and 92 in 163 Arsenal appearances overall. The player was left out of the group that is in Dubai at present on a warm-weather camp during the Premier League break.
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