​Arsenal are ready to offer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang an upgrade on his contract in an effort to fend off the supposed looming temptation of the Chinese Super League.

The Gabonese forward had an excellent campaign for the Gunners in 2018/19, earning himself the Premier League’s Golden Boot award, along with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, after netting 22 times.

​The Mirror claim that the north London club are preparing to offer Aubameyang a new contract in order to stave off their interest from Chinese clubs Guangzhou Evergrande and Shanghai SIPG.

The report suggests that both have lined up moves the 29-year-old, with the possibility of a £300k-a-week contract on offer.

The 29-year-old’s contract not due to expire until 2021, yet the Arsenal board are keen to sit down with Aubameyang this summer to offer ‘big pay rise’, which would increase his current £190k-a-week salary.

The Gunners lost ​Aaron Ramsey on a free to ​Juventus, after they failed to tie the Welshman down to a new deal and it appears they will surely be keen to ensure they don’t allow yet another high-profile squad member to slip through their fingers.

However, Ramsey famously left Arsenal when they wouldn’t match his pay demands and it seems unlikely that the Gunners – who famously have just £40m to spend on transfers this summer – can match the £300k-a-week wages potentially on offer in China.

Therefore the logic of offering a big new contract (yet not as big as that potentially on offer with his suitors) to a player whose deal doesn’t expire for another two years, when he will be over 30, is questionable.

Meanwhile, the report adds Arsenal are also targeting an extension for ​Alexandre Lacazette, another player who has recently been linked with a move away from the Emirates.

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have been mooted as possible destinations for the French forward. However, those links have gone cold of late, while the former Lyon star’s current deal runs until 2022.

The Mirror claim he is ‘likely’ to be offered £200k a week. Again, around £100k (weekly) shy of the supposed offers from China.

The two players are, however, essential to Arsenal’s attack and most fans would be delighted to see them sign contract extensions regardless of the cost, even if the possibility of losing either player to China (or elsewhere) this summer looks slim at best. 

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​The Golden Boy is an award handed out to the best under 21 player in European football annually.

Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Kylian Mbappe are just three examples of previous winners, who have gone on to have huge success in the game. The most recent winner – Matthijs De Ligt – was the first defender to win the award and adds to a list of incredibly gifted players to have been recognised in previous years.

​Tuttosport, the Italian publication who established the award back in 2003, have just released the long list of 100 nominees for the 2019 title, which will be whittled down after a fan vote. 

Along with obvious candidates like De Ligt, Moise Kean and Gianluigi Donnarumma, the list includes 25 ​Premier League players – 16 of whom are English.

​Wayne Rooney and ​Raheem Sterling are the only two Englishman to have won the award previously, but 2019 could see an English player crowned Golden Boy for the third time.

Here’s a list of the English players to have received a nomination.

Angel Gomes (Manchester United)

Gomes was part of the England squad who won the Under-17 World Cup in 2017 and has already made three senior appearances for ​Manchester United. 

With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looking more towards youth, we could see much more of the youngster next season.

Keanan Bennetts (Borussia Monchengladbach)

Bennetts is a left winger, who spent his formative years at ​Tottenham Hotspur before making the move to the ​Bundesliga last summer. He is yet to feature for the first team, but with Thorgan Hazard recently leaving Monchengladbach, a path to the senior squad could be open next year.

Rhian Brewster (Liverpool)

​Brewster burst onto the scene when he won the golden boot in England’s Under-17 World Cup winning campaign two years ago. Injury has prevented him from featuring too much under Jurgen Klopp, but now back at full fitness, Brewster is one to watch in the Premier League next season.

Phil Foden (Manchester City)

The 19-year-old is clearly blossoming under the tutorship of Pep Guardiola and the second half​ of ​Manchester City’s title-winning campaign saw Foden featuring regularly. With David Silva coming towards the end of his career, City seem to have the perfect replacement already among their ranks.

Morgan Gibbs-White (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

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Another player benefitting from the coaching of their manager is Gibbs-White of ​Wolves. The 19-year-old already has 46 senior appearances under his belt and has played an increasingly important role in his side’s Premier League fortunes.

Charlie Gilmour (Arsenal)

​The Brighton-born youngster has impressed with his performances which have come mainly in Premier League 2 games. The 20-year-old has switched allegiances between England and Scotland youth teams, but may need to make a final decision should he receive a call-up for one of the senior teams in the next few years.

Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea)

The ​Chelsea ​youngster spent much of this season struggling for game time, but gradually fought his way into the first team before suffering injury towards the end of the campaign. Once he returns to action, he will be looking to continue the good form he has already shown in his short career to date.

Mason Mount (Chelsea)

Mount excelled this season in his loan spell at ​Derby County, where he lit the Championship up with his enigmatic performances from midfield. With Rams boss Frank Lampard expected to take over at Stamford Bridge, Mount could be a Premier League star in the next few seasons.

Reiss Nelson (Arsenal)

As one of many Premier League​ youngsters to go abroad in search of first-team football, Nelson had great success during his loan spell with Hoffenheim. Scoring seven goals in the Bundesliga in 2018/19, the 19-year-old will hope to make a big impression in the Premier League next year.

Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal)

​The London-born 20-year-old has played most of his football in the PL2 but has impressed in his occasional first team appearance. After scoring in ​Arsenal’s final game of the season, Nketiah is a player who Gunners are desperate to see more of next season.

Tashan Oakley-Boothe (Tottenham Hotspur)

Likewise, Oakley-Boothe has been starved of first-team action, as all his playing time at Spurs has come in youth and development squads. The 19-year-old can play anywhere across the midfield and will hope to break into the senior team in the coming years.

Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund)

​Perhaps the most well-known of all the English players up for the Golden Boy award, Sancho is already a star on the biggest stage. An incredible season saw him cement his place in the ​Dortmund team, picking up 12 goals and 14 assists in the process.

Oliver Skipp (Tottenham Hotspur)

The 18-year-old has impressed Mauricio Pochettino enough to break into the Tottenham first team this season, which has seen him make eight league appearances. The defensive midfielder is set to play an even bigger role next season and is certainly one to watch in the Premier League.

Dujon Sterling (Chelsea)

Sterling was one of Chelsea’s many loaned-out players this season, as he spent the 2018/19 campaign playing for League One side Coventry. The 19-year-old was an integral part of a Sky Blues side who fell just short of the playoffs, as he scored five and assisted four whilst playing at right back.

Joe Willock (Arsenal)

​​You may recall Willock from Arsenal’s Europa League final defeat to Chelsea. The 19-year-old brought the game back to life as a second-half substitute and was unlucky not to get his name on the scoresheet. Willock is one of several young Gunners who will be vying for a first team spot next season.

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Bournemouth have released a statement regarding the future of Ryan Fraser, after months of speculation linking the Scotsman with a move to Arsenal.

The diminutive winger was in superb form for the Cherries throughout last season, contributing to 21 goals en-route to picking up the club’s Player of the Year award.

He only has 12 months left on his current Vitality Stadium contract, and his continued form has seen endless amounts of speculation linking him with a move to a bigger club – with Arsenal specifically named as potential suitors.

In an unusual step, Bournemouth have acknowledged that contract talks earlier in the season were put on hold at Fraser’s request – before confirming in an official statement on the club’s website that a new contract offer is now on the table.

“The offer of a new long-term contract has been on the table for Ryan for some time,” the statement began.

“In September 2018, at the request of Ryan’s representative, negotiations were paused to allow the player to focus entirely on his football.

“During that time, I have been – and continue to be – in regular dialogue with Ryan’s representative, and have made it clear to both him and the player that our contract offer remains on the table.

“Quite simply, Ryan is a fantastic player and an integral part of our squad. We look forward to welcoming Ryan back to us next month after a well-earned break, upon which he can focus on having another standout season for AFC Bournemouth.”

Fraser himself has admitted in the past couple of days that he is likely to be staying on the south coast, having previously stated publicly that he has ​”no cl​ue” if he’ll be moving to Arsenal.

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Arsenal have made advances in their pursuit of Saint-Étienne defender William Saliba and talks between the two clubs are going well.

Unai Emery will be desperate to improve his defence, having conceded 51 goals in the Premier League last season – more than Everton and Newcastle.

According to ​10sport, the Gunners have been keeping tabs on the 18-year-old French centre back and progress is being made, with the report stating a deal could be completed in the coming weeks.

Despite only signing a new contract a few weeks ago – lasting until 2023 – it has been suggested Saint-Étienne would be willing to sell the young talent for around £27m. A sale this high would allow the Ligue 1 side to reinvest in multiple positions, allowing them to boost the overall quality of their squad.

Saint-Étienne also want to take Saliba back on loan for the 2019/20 season, ensuring the loss would not be so significant in the short-term. Similarly to Kurt Zouma’s switch to ​Chelsea 2014, a loan back would allow the player time to develop in a less pressured environment and in familiar surroundings.

​Manchester United have also been linked with Saliba, as they also look to strengthen their backline. Conceding 54 Premier League goals last season, the Red Devils arguably need reinforcements even more desperately than ​Arsenal.

Nevertheless, it is the Gunners who remain in pole position to sign the French wonderkid. With Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal ageing, and Shkodran Mustafi unconvincing, Arsenal should be inclined to spend a significant portion of their transfer budget on defensive reinforcements.

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