It would criminal for Arsenal to let Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang run down his contract and leave as a free agent, David O’Leary has said.
David believes the North London club needs to do everything possible to get the most value for their saleable asset before he leaves for nothing.
According to him, Arsenal must learn from their past mistakes of letting players leave for free because it is not financially right for the club.
He added that if the Gabonese is not convinced to stay, it is best to sell him for someone hungry and young ASAP.
His words, “I think the club has learned in the past that letting people’s contracts run down and walking out on free transfers, top players have done that, it’s not financially right for the club.
“Personally, I hope he signs again because his goal-scoring record is unbelievable, but the club has got to find out does he want to stay, and if he doesn’t then I think they have got to cash in on him.
“You cannot afford to let contracts run down now, particularly a player like that. If he runs his contract down and just walks out on a free, that would be criminal in many ways.
“But we all have to have our own structures on the financial side of things. I don’t know what he’s looking for. Arsenal pay fantastically well, whether that is good enough for him…
“If it’s not going to be, I hate to say it, I think they have got to go and get the best price for him and use that money to bring in someone young and hungry and hopefully do great for Arsenal Football Club. I hope it doesn’t come to that.”
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