Aubameyang dropped from Borussia Dortmund squad for disciplinary reasons

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been left out of Borussia Dortmund's squad for their game against Wolfsburg on Sunday after missing a team meeting.

BVB manager Peter Stoger confirmed that Aubameyang skipped the briefing on Saturday before leaving Dortmund's training complex early.

"This is a relatively important meeting, and he just stayed away, so I guess he's not that important, that he's not that focused," Stoger told Sky. "We've taken consequences. He was a little surprised today, he did not quite feel that way himself, but for us it's a straightforward story. If he does not want to be there, then we'll turn to someone else who is fully focused on playing. He has hinted that he is focused, but we all know that's not the case."

This marks the third time this season that the Gabon international, who has scored 21 goals in 23 appearances in all competitions this term, has been left out of the squad for disciplinary reasons. 

Aubameyang has been heavily linked with a move away from the Bundesliga side in the January transfer window.

Reports earlier this month suggested that Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande had agreed a £63.5 million deal to sign the striker, which would have been completed at the end of the season.

However, they swiftly debunked those rumours, maintaining that the speculation was "completely groundless".

Dortmund announced via Twitter that Aubameyang, who has also been linked with Antonio Conte's Chelsea, had been omitted for their encounter with Wolfsburg, though they did not issue any further details.

The 28-year-old was also left out for a match against Stuttgart in November, though a more detailed explanation was not given. 

Aubameyang has been prolific for Dortmund since signing for the German club in July 2013, scoring 98 top-flight goals.

Former Manchester City youngster Jadon Sancho, meanwhile, starts for Dortmund, having previously played just 16 first-team minutes in the German top-flight.

Stoger's side resume league action sitting fourth in the table, having won their last two games before the mid-season break, with Aubameyang scoring against Hoffenheim.