By Noel Whelan

5th Jan, 2022 | 8:30am

Newcastle tipped to complete loan-to-buy Aubameyang deal after Sky's Arsenal update - pundit

Noel Whelan has insisted Newcastle could complete a deal for Arsenal outcast Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this month.

The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed a move for the 32-year-old is possible as the two sides are not in “direct competition”.

According to Sky Sports (5 January), Arsenal are willing to listen to “suitable offers” for Aubameyang this month after he was frozen out and stripped of the captaincy in December.

As per the Mirror (1 January), Newcastle have contacted the Gunners regarding a loan deal for the striker – with a view to making the deal permanent for £20million.

Whelan suggested the Magpies are one of the few sides able to match the 32-year-old’s hefty salary – with Sky Sports claiming he earns £350,000-per-week.

“I can see that happening – purely because of the situation at Arsenal right now,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.

“They’re seemingly not missing him too much at all, with the way Martinelli, Saka, and Odegaard have all stepped up. They’re in a really good place.

“There’s a real possibility of that deal happening, purely because Newcastle are sitting at the bottom. It’s not going to be a case of selling to a rival like Chelsea, Man United – the two sides aren’t in direct competition.

“Also, Newcastle could probably afford to pay his wages. I’m not sure there’ll be too many other sides willing to do that in this window.

“If he’s not going to play for Arsenal again, maybe Newcastle could give him that route out. There could be a view to signing permanently if he can keep them in the Premier League.”

Newcastle remain 19th in the Premier League.

Aubameyang has scored 68 Premier League goals in 128 top-flight games.

In other news, medical booked as Newcastle close in on £18million deal.