Arsenal have been handed a positive update on the availability of Gonzalo Higuain, after Napoli’s President confirmed he would NOT be joining Juventus.
Arsene Wenger looked set to finally land the Argentinian when reports suggested the club had met with officials to discuss the complex details of any contract that may be offered.
It didn’t take long for the rumours to fade out of the papers, and in a sudden twist it seemed Juventus were clear favourites to grab the 36-goal strikers signing this transfer window.
The media stressed that Juve would use substantial funds from the likely sale of Paul Pogba to Manchester United in order to pay his extreme release clause.
But now Higuain’s club President Aurelio De Laurentiis, has revealed the 28-year-old would never move to a fellow Italian side, stressing that any move would have to offer a new challenge.
Higuain will not go to Juve.
In fact it’s not even right for Higuain to go to another Italian club.
Gonzalo has two more years on his contract, if no-one comes up with the amount equal to his release clause he’ll stay at Napoli.
It looks as if there’s only one way Arsenal are going to get the striker in an Arsenal shirt before the start of the season, and that’s paying that overwhelming £78.5m release clause.
For a player that is about to enter his 30’s that’s a lot of money, and when you bring his wages into it too Wenger will have to consider whether or not the short-term payout will pay off.
For those reasons alone, it looks as if Arsenal are already turning their attention back to the likes of Alexandre Lacazette and Mauro Icardi, who are front-runners to make the switch this summer.
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