Arsenal Steal March On Liverpool After Opening Talks With Agent Of 36-Goal Striker

The opening of the summer transfer window is now open so we’ll bring you all the latest transfer rumours and gossip from around the globe. Today, Arsenal steal a march on Liverpool in the race for Gonzalo Higuain….

Arsenal have stepped-up their interest in Gonzalo Higuain after opening talks with the Argentinean striker’s agent over a potential move to the Emirates this summer, according to a report in the Mirror.

Higuain has been considered as one of the most prolific strikers in European football since moving to this continent almost 10 years ago and scored 121 goals in 264 appearances for Real Madrid following his arrival from River Plate in 2007.

The South American has continued to forge his reputation at Napoli having scored a record-breaking 36 goals in just 35 league games last season but his future in Naples was thrown in to doubt after his agent confirmed last week that he wouldn’t be signing a new deal with the Italian outfit.

Nicolas Higuain, who is also his brother, was quoted by the Express as saying that the striker didn’t think Napoli matched his ambitions and suggested that English clubs were among those who could afford the 28-year-old’s huge buyout clause.

“The President [Aurelio De Laurentiis] has the right to claim the money [€94m / £78.5m] from the clause, and we have the right not to renew,”

“In 2013 we decided to leave Real Madrid because we wanted a change of scenery. We arrived at Napoli with great enthusiasm, there was an ambitious project with Rafa Benitez at the helm,”

“There was talk of structural improvement and competing with Juve. In my opinion though, the project isn’t up to Gonzalo’s level.

“Napoli have given him a lot, and vice-versa, but the project is below expectations right now. It’s fine getting youngsters, but not to compete with Juve.

“Gonzalo will not renew, we’re confident of that given the situation of the project. We have a contract, and we’ll respect it, but we won’t change our opinion.

“There are signatures on contracts, so the club has the right to ask for the clause, just as we have the right to not renew.

“Who could he play for? Currently four or five teams. The great teams in Spain and England, one club in France [Paris Saint-Germain] and one in Germany [Bayern Munich]. Only they can afford him.”

These comments were understood to be a tactic by the agent to try and get Napoli to reduce their asking price for Higuain and Sky Sports News claim that Arsenal and Liverpool are among the clubs keen to lure the striker to the Premier League this summer.

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 signing for the Merseysiders.

However, it looks as though Liverpool have some catching up to do as the Mirror are citing reports coming from Gazette dello Sport journalist Emanuele Giulianelli who claims that Arsenal have now made contact with Higuain’s agent to discuss a move to north London.

Arsene Wenger needs to sign a striker to offer competition to Olivier Giroud and has now seemingly turned his attention to Higuain after missing out on Jamie Vardy – who opted to sign a new deal with Leicester City last month.

The report suggests that Wenger is hoping to get a deal agreed over the coming weeks as he’d like his new striker on board when the Gunners fly-out on their pre-season tour of America at the end of July.

Higuain has just two years left on his contract so his value will drop considerably in 12 months time if he stands by his word of not signing a new deal so perhaps Napoli could be persuaded to cash-in now while his value is still high.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Liverpool transfer news

We’ll have to wait and see how things develop but I think Napoli are going to have to substantially lower their expectations as neither Arsenal or Liverpool will pay anywhere near £78.5m for Higuain, or any other player for that matter.