Arsenal hero Sagna warns Aubameyang transfer away would be disaster like RVP and urges club to ‘just give him £50m’
BACARY SAGNA has told Arsenal it would be a disaster to let Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leave.
And the former Gunners full-back has urged the club to throw money at the striker in order to make him stay and avoid a nightmare situation like Robin van Persie's departure to Manchester United.
Aubameyang has been continually linked with a move away after Arsenal reportedly accepted the fact he would not sign a new deal and prepared to cash in.
The prolific 30-year-old's contract runs out next summer and United and Barcelona are both keen to land the Gabonese at the end of this season.
But Sagna, 37, who played for the North Londoners between 2007 and 2014 thinks his old club must avoid that at all costs.
He told : "He can’t go now because Arsenal are on the way to building something strong.
ARSENAL NEWS LIVE: Follow for the latest Gunners news
“They can’t afford to lose him. If they have to pay him, then just pay him because if they want someone else of his quality they cost £150million.
“So don’t spend this £150m, just spend £50m and give it to him. It’s the same as van Persie and I think you have to learn from that situation."
For a brief time, Sagna was a teammate of Thierry Henry's at Arsenal and knows the importance of a world class striker.
And that is exactly how he views Aubameyang who has 20 goals from 32 games in all competitions this season.
He added: "Auba deserves it. I’m not saying that because of his name or because he has scored a few goals. He’s the best striker in the league.
"One year ago someone asked me if he was world class and I replied no. Some people were not happy about my answer, but to me he had the potential to be better and to be more clinical.
"One year later, yes he is world class because every time he is in front of goal he scores. Even his movement is different.
“He is clinical, he is so dangerous. As a defender you don’t want to be facing this type of player.
"Auba is a machine, he has scored many goals for the team. If you want to build something, it has to be around him."
The Gunners were criticised earlier this season for their handling of the captaincy after stripping it from Granit Xhaka after he told fans to f*** off.
But former France international Sagna thinks letting Aubameyang lead Mikel Arteta's men has done him the world of good and is another reason the Gunners should try to hang on to their talisman.
He continued: "Giving him the armband gave him some confidence. He is the captain, which means they want him to lead.
MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
“Today, the stadium is the club’s stadium. It’s always full, they are making money.
"Of course there are other ways of spending money, but I would rather pay him than trying to find a solution with him than losing him and then wasting time trying with someone else, and finding someone else now is very, very difficult.
"It’s like playing chess. You have to be smart. He deserves it, just give it to him.”