Report: Arsenal in pole position to sign Evans, Aubameyang for combined £75M

Arsenal is reportedly the favourite to land two of the January transfer window's most talked-about footballers.

According to The Telegraph's Jeremy Wilson and James Ducker, Arsenal is in pole position to sign Jonny Evans and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for a combined £75 million. Manchester City apparently cooled its interest in the Northern Irish centre-back, while negotiations with Borussia Dortmund advanced.

Evans allegedly preferred a move to City, but the Citizens revived their interest in Athletic Club's Aymeric Laporte and are attempting to reach an agreement on a transfer fee valued at around £20 million. West Brom's reported incentive to complete the deal is so that there are funds to strengthen the squad, with Alan Pardew keen to add attacking footballers and reportedly interested in Watford's Troy Deeney.

Per the Guardian's Fabrizio Romano and Ed Aarons, Pep Guardiola opted to make a renewed attempt to secure Laporte after the French centre-back decided against a move to City in June 2016. The footballer signed a contract renewal with Athletic to remain at the Basque club until June 30, 2020, and his cancellation clause was valued at €65 million in 2017-18, €70 million in 2018-19, and €70 million in 2019-20. The Catalan manager is reportedly keen to provide cover as there are doubts over Vincent Kompany's fitness, and Real Sociedad's Inigo Martinez is also under consideration.

As for Aubameyang, a delegation including Ivan Gazidis, Sven Mislintat, and Huss Fahmy is apparently in Germany attempting to finalise what could potentially be a club-record deal for the striker. A bid of £44 million was allegedly rejected, but Arsenal indicated a willingness to increase its offer to around £50 million, with Dortmund valuing the striker at closer to £60 million. The discussion reportedly includes loaning Olivier Giroud to the German club, who is keen to get a replacement in addition to a big transfer fee.