AC Milan midfielder Willy Aubameyang joins Kilmarnock

By Clive Lindsay

Aubameyang (right) was one of three brothers who played for AC Milan

Gabon midfielder Willy Aubameyang has joined Kilmarnock from AC Milan after impressing on trial.

The 23-year-old is expected to sign until the end of the season after being released by the Serie A club.

Kilmarnock manager Mixu Paatelainen told BBC Scotland: "He is listed on many websites as a striker, but he will be a midfielder for us.

"He is a strong player, technically gifted with relative pace and I hope he will improve while with us."

Uncertainty remains about the future of Alexei Eremenko, whose impressive form on loan to Kilmarnock from Metalist Kharkiv has attracted the interest of other clubs.

But Paatelainen said Aubameyang was not being viewed as a potential replacement for Eremenko should Metalist accept an offer for the Finland international before the January transfer window closes.

He can play up front, but he is not usually a striker Kilmarnock manager Mixu Paatelainen

"If we lose any players, we would look to replace them, although we are limited with the wages we can offer," said Paatelainen.

Neither did Paatelainen see Aubameyang as possible cover for top scorer Conor Sammon, who this month rejected a £600,000 transfer to Championship strugglers Scunthorpe United.

"He can play up front, but he is not usually a striker," said Paatelainen, who earlier in the month added former Le Havre midfielder Benjamin Laurant to his squad.

"My contacts told me that Aubameyang was available, I had a look at him and I liked what I saw.

"He can play various positions and I think he will be a good addition to the squad."

Aubameyang, whose brothers Catilina and Pierre-Emerick also played for Milan, joined the Serie A club from Triestina in 2005 and made his first-team debut in December 2007.

However, he spent the following seasons on loan to Avellino and the Belgians Eupen before heading to Italian third-tier outfit Monza for the first half of this term.

Now, like Catilina, who is with Ajaccio, he has left the San Siro and will sign for Kilmarnock when the paperwork is completed on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Paatelainen revealed that there had been further inquiries about Sammon.

However, he added: "There have been no concrete bids as yet."