Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. (Photo : Getty Images)
Gabon head coach Jorge Costa disclosed that national team player Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is in the process of "changing clubs" this summer during an interview prior to the team's friendly match versus Mauritania on Saturday.
The 44-year-old manager spoke to reporters before the match and said to have "accidentally" tipped off an impending transfer in the works for Borussia Dortmund's main scorer in the offseason.
"Aubameyang asked me not to be selected because he is in the process of changing clubs," Costa said after reporters inquired about the 26-year-old striker's absence in the national squad during the game, the Daily Star reported.
Interestingly, Costa did not mention any potential destinations for the French-born Gabonese forward, although speculations abound that he could be on his way to Manchester United with new head coach Jose Mourinho allegedly wants him snatched to his side next season.
The Old Trafford residents are reportedly prepared to spend £70 million for the Gabonese goal scorer in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Aubameyang finished the season second to Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski in the list of Bundesliga's top scorers with 25 goals in 29 contests in the German top flight. In all competitions, the 6-foot-2 Laval, France native netted 39 goals in 46 appearances, which is one of the most productive in Europe this term.
Aside from the Red Devils, Arsenal and Liverpool were also reportedly interested in Aubameyang's services.
Meanwhile, SkySports indicated that Der BVB dismissed Aubameyang's exit talks as Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke described the rumors as "nonsense".
"That's all nonsense," Watzke told with a laugh a reporter who asked about his comment regarding the Gabon manager's recent remarks.
"In all serious, even if such an offer would come in, that would be irrelevant for us. We are simply not selling Auba," the chief executive added.
Aubameyang was acquired by Dortmund in the summer of 2013 from Ligue 1 club AS Saint-Étienne for an undisclosed transfer fee. He had just finished his third season with the Bundesliga giants.
He scored a total of 80 goals in 140 games in all competitions for BVB during the said time span and had been a productive complement with Marco Reus and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the club's attacking front trio.
