Arsenal Hope To Trump Liverpool With £42m + Giroud Swap Offer For 36-Goal Star

The summer transfer window is now open for business so we’ll bring you all the latest transfer rumours and gossip from around the globe. Today, Arsenal make their move for Gonzalo Higuain….

Arsenal are ready to formalise their interest in Gonzalo Higuain by offering Napoli £42.6m in cash plus Olivier Giroud in exchange for the Argentinean international, according to Calciomercato.

Higuain has continued to prove he’s one of the most prolific strikers in European football since joining Napoli from Real Madrid in 2013 and set a new Serie A record after scoring 36 goals in just 35 games last season.

The South American has constantly been linked with a move to the Premier League and Sky Sports News claimed recently that Arsenal and Liverpool were among the clubs battling it out over his signature this summer after Higuain’s agent confirmed the striker won’t be signing a new deal at Napoli.

Jurgen Klopp has already brought in four new signings this window but the German coach is expected to further strengthen his attacking options and Higuain would be a blockbuster replacement for Christian Benteke should the Belgian leave Anfield as expected over the coming weeks.

However, it looks as though the Reds have some catching up to do as Italian outlet Calciomercato claims that Arsenal are ready to test Napoli’s resolve with a player plus cash swap deal that will see them pay £42.6m as well as offer Olivier Giroud in return for Higuain’s signature.

The 28-year-old has a buyout clause worth around £72m so the inclusion of Giroud in the deal would take Arsenal’s offer close to that figure and it would also give Napoli a ready-made replacement, so the Italians could be tempted.

Arsene Wenger is in the market for another striker after missing out on Jamie Vardy and the Frenchman has long been linked with a move for  Higuain so it appears the Gunners boss is now willing to sacrifice Giroud in order to finally get his hands on the prolific Argentinean.

However, as well as facing potential competition from Liverpool, Calciomercato claim that West Ham are also showing a keen interest in Higuain and are lining-up a straight cash offer worth around £59.7m.

Arsenal should be confident of fending off interest from the likes of West Ham given they are able to offer Higuain Champions League football and he’d certainly be a superb addition for the north London club.

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But I’d question the logic in offering Giroud as a make-weight in any deal as it would leave Wenger still needing to bring in another striker or he’d risk leaving himself short up front with Danny Welbeck likely to miss the majority of next season through injury.