On a dramatic deadline day, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang appears to be on his way out of Arsenal, with Barcelona agreeing to take the former Gunners captain on a free transfer.

Monday began with Aubameyang so certain that he will be loaned to the La Liga giants that he travelled to Catalonia without informing either club.

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The talks between Arsenal and Barcelona reached a snag early this afternoon over the latter’s finances, but sources close to the agreement have indicated that the deadlock has been overcome. Importantly, assuming the remaining hurdles are cleared, the player will now leave on a permanent basis for no transfer fee. In the next hours, the 32-year-old will have his medical exam.

While Arsenal will be relieved to have Aubameyang’s $400,000-a-week salary off their books, fans will be outraged if he leaves without a successor.

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According to club sources, the Gabonese international’s exit does not represent any optimism at the Emirates Stadium that their month-long search for a centre forward will be fruitful. Mikel Arteta will have just two strikers in his first team squad for the rest of the season unless something remarkable happens in the final three hours of the window.

Meanwhile, with Aubameyang willing to make the transfer to La Liga, Barcelona’s attacking options have swelled. Despite the fact that talks appeared to be stumbling, the Spanish side voiced optimism. Club president Joan Laporta told Mundo Deportivo, “We will keep working until the last minute. The situation is not easy. It’s known we’d like to sign Aubameyang. It’s complicated but there’s hope.”

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Sources who are close to the deal confirmed to CBS Sports that Aubameyang had achieved a full agreement with Barcelona on the loan move, but the Spanish club has struggled to reach an agreement with Arsenal, who were caught off guard when they learned that Aubameyang had already been to Barcelona. Only when he was photographed arriving at the airport did some employees notice.

It will be a good end to January for Aubameyang, who had previously turned down offers from other clubs in order to secure a move to a prominent European team. CBS Sports reported earlier this month that the striker had been offered a loan move to Al Nassr, with a $9 million required buy clause.

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Xavi had long designated Aubameyang as his primary objective until Barcelona entered the fray in the final hours of the window. The former Borussia Dortmund striker joins other Premier League recruits Ferran Torres and Adama Traore to complete a midseason window in which the Blaugrana reshaped their attack radically.