Arsenal have had a second bid for striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang rejected by Borussia Dortmund.
The bid of 50m euros (£43.64m) was made by the Premier League club on Wednesday and was turned down immediately.
It is understood Dortmund will only consider selling the Gabon forward, 28, for a fee in excess of £50m.
It has previously been suggested Arsenal would include Olivier Giroud in any deal but Wednesday’s bid was purely a cash offer for Aubameyang.
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The Gunners must now decide whether to pursue their interest in the forward or, with only a week of the transfer window remaining, pursue alternative targets.
Aubameyang has been targeted by Arsenal during the current transfer window and a deputation from the club flew out to Germany to meet with their Dortmund counterparts last weekend.
Aubameyang has twice been dropped for disciplinary reasons this season and was not selected for the draw at Hertha Berlin on Friday.
Borussia Dortmund last week described Arsene Wenger’s comments on the striker as disrespectful.
Wenger had said Aubameyang would “fit in” at Arsenal.
“We regard it as disrespectful that Arsene Wenger expresses himself about players of other clubs,” said the club.
Sporting director Michael Zorc added: “There is no contact on our part with Arsenal.
“Arsene Wenger certainly has enough currently to deal with the performance of his own players.”
