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Barcelona sporting director Eric Abidal has confirmed that the club will be in the market for a striker this summer after exploring a January deal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The Spanish champions were eager to sign a centre forward this month after Luis Suarez suffered a knee injury that will sideline him for much of the remainder of the season.

Aubameyang was high on their wishlist and Barcelona are believed to have considered a loan move for the 30-year-old striker, though his club Arsenal would never have considered allowing their captain to leave for anything less than a sizeable transfer fee well in excess of £50million.

Barcelona also held talks with Valencia over their striker Rodrigo and their sporting director confirmed they had considered moves for Chelsea outcast Olivier Giroud and Fernando Llorente of Napoli. Abidal, who is facing mounting pressure at the Camp Nou after he said some members of the squad were not working hard enough, insists the club will return to the market at the end of the season.

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"It is logical that in summer a 'nine' will come. It is a necessity. We know that Suarez will come back strong, but you have to bring a top player in the summer," he told Sport.

"We do not know if it will be young or experienced. We only look at the talent and adaptation they may have. We must think that some top players have come and have not adapted well."

Abidal added with regards to Aubameyang: "I know him. I do not have much to do beyond sports. He has a profile that has depth.

"He is important, and in his team he is decisive. It is good to bring this profile of player who can be in the market and can help you.

"We'll see what will happen."

Aubameyang is into the final 18 months of his contract at Arsenal and his future at the club could well depend on whether they manage to qualify for the Champions League, with the Gabon striker eager to prove his worth at the top level during the remainder of his prime years.

Talks were brought to an end before the start of the season with no agreement in sight but since the appointment of Mikel Arteta Aubameyang has offered Arsenal hope that he could yet extend his hugely successful stay in north London, where he has scored 57 goals in 92 appearances.

"People like making up stories and they should focus on what’s happening on the pitch," Aubameyang said in programme notes before an FA Cup third round win over Leeds United. "They talk too much and it does my head in!

“I am the Arsenal captain. I love this club. I am committed to it and desperate to bring it back to the top, where it belongs.”