Arsenal will table their first official contract offer to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang “in the coming days” according to the Telegraph‘s Matt Law.

The usually reliable journalist claims the Gunners will offer the 31-year-old £250,000 a week, plus bonuses, in order to persuade the striker into staying at the Emirates.

It had been suggested that Aubameyang may hold out for parity with the club’s top earner Mesut Ozil, who is reportedly earning £350,000 a week, but there is growing optimism that Arsenal’s captain will put pen to paper on a new deal.

Asked about the forward’s future before the 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa yesterday, head coach Mikel Arteta said he was increasingly confident that the player would stay:

“I like the way the conversations are going, I like what I’m hearing. I’m sure for both parties, the quicker we can do it, the better for everyone.”

The crucial thing will be what Aubameyang thinks of the contract offer, though. Another reliable reporter, Fabrizio Romano, has claimed the striker will only sign on the dotted line if other clubs don’t come in for him this summer.