Is Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang really on his way to Manchester City?

This summer has not been enjoyable for Dortmund fans for a variety of reasons, and it could possibly get even worse. Sky Sports are reporting that Manchester City are in "advanced talks" with BVB for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The departure of Aubameyang would be a crushing one for the club, primarily because it is impossible to immediately replace a player of his caliber. Auba was the second highest scorer in the Bundesliga this past season, and is clearly one of the best strikers in the world. He bagged 25 goals in the league, and 36 in all competitions. You don't replace that.

BREAKING: Sky sources: Man City in advanced talks with Borussia Dortmund to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. #SSNHQ https://t.co/7lej8iIPM1

— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) June 7, 2016

Thankfully it doesn't appear that this deal is anywhere near as close to completion as Sky is reporting it to be. Simon Mullock, who writes for The Mirror and is apparently quite reliable for news on Man City, instead says that the price being asked for Aubameyang is too high for City.

....He's on radar but price too high & since then there have been "no conversations, no meetings, no offers, nothing"

— Simon Mullock (@MullockSMirror) June 7, 2016

This sounds a lot more realistic than a sudden move to Manchester City. It would require an astronomical transfer fee to buy Auba. The Daily Mail claim that BVB are asking for £58 million (€74.3 million), but I wouldn't be surprised if the real number is even higher. Would Man City really want to commit that much to a striker when they have bigger needs as a team and already have Sergio Aguero, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Wilfried Bony?

Plus you've got to factor in that Aubameyang has repeatedly spoken about his desire to play for Real Madrid, after a promise he made to his Grandfather. I'm not sure he will be jumping at this transfer opportunity, Man City barely finished 4th in the Premier League this season. If it were Madrid who were interested, then I'd really be worried.

But the real reason I'm not buying into this is because of these supposed "Sky Sources". Reveal yourself for who you truly are!

.@MCFC is getting close to #Aubameyang of @BVB: contacts ongoing between the clubs and with the striker @SkySportsNewsHQ @SkySport

— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) June 7, 2016

This report all started today with a tweet from Gianluca Di Marzio. Di Marzio, who works for Sky Italia, reported that the deal was close. Di Marzio is a reliable journalist for news on Italian soccer, but he isn't anywhere near as reliable on deals that don't involve an Italian club or player.

Remember when we signed Lassana Diarra? Yeah, me neither.

Borussia Dortmund, vicino l’arrivo di Lassana Diarra: le ultime http://t.co/d4ZJGZbpuC

— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) January 20, 2015

But people didn't start freaking out about the story until Sky's tweet. Yes, Sky probably have some sources at Manchester City seeing as they are both English organizations. But the "Sky Sources" here are really just Di Marzio, who works for Sky Italia, which is not as reliable of an outlet for transfer stories on English football.

If you were worried, hopefully this debunking has assuaged your fears. If not, there's always alcohol. Keep it handy just in case this deal does somehow go through.

Update: RN, a much better source for Dortmund news than Sky, have come out and said that the reports of the deal being close are not true. Exhale everybody!