Arsenal are in talks to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after the club’s new head of recruitment, Sven Mislintat, assured the Gunners that they will not be getting a bad boy.

Mislintat recommended prolific striker Aubameyang, who he helped sign for Borussia Dortmund in 2013, as Arsenal contemplate how to replace Alexis Sanchez.

Arsenal have been chasing a £40 milllion deal for Bordeaux forward Malcolm, but Aubameyang has emerged as their top January target with Sanchez on the way out.

Everton are also increasingly confident they will sign Theo Walcott for £20m, with talks between the Goodison Park club and Arsenal progressing well.

With Bordeaux reluctant to sell Malcom this month, and holding out for big money, Arsenal are more hopeful of clinching a deal for Aubameyang who Dortmund are prepared to sell in a deal worth around £50m.

Aubameyang has encountered several disciplinary issues this season after failing to clinch a move away from Dortmund last summer. The latest clash with his club came at the weekend, as the 28 year-old was left out of the Dortmund squad for the game against Wolfsburg.