Liverpool transfer news: Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain 'prefers' Anfield move to other options

The 28-year-old was in sensational form for the Serie A outfit last season, scoring a record 36 goals in 35 appearances

Higuain has enjoyed a record-breaking season with Napoli in Serie A (Getty)

Liverpool appear to have been handed a huge boost after it was reported that Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuaín favours a switch to Anfield over any of the alternatives available to him this summer.

The 28-year-old was in sensational form for the Serie A outfit last season, scoring a record 36 goals in 35 appearances to help propel Maurizio Sarri’s side to a second-place finish. Higuaín has been linked with Arsenal and Manchester United in recent seasons but a switch to England has failed to materialise.

According to the Daily Mirror, however, the former Real Madrid forward has been flattered by interest from Reds manager Jürgen Klopp and would be willing to join the German on Merseyside despite the lack of European football next season.

Defeat to Sevilla in the Europa League final cut the cord on any hopes of Champions League qualification while an eighth-place finish in the Premier League also rules out another year in Europe’s second-tier competition.

Christian Benteke is most likely to leave after enduring a torrid season under Klopp despite joining last summer for £32.5m from Aston Villa. Daniel Sturridge, too, is unclear about his next move but is focussed on securing a spot in Roy Hodgson’s England squad for the European Championship for the time being.

Higuaín, meanwhile, can boast a fearsome strike record from his time in Italy, scoring 71 goals in 104 Serie A fixtures since leaving the Santiago Bernabéu for £34.5m in 2013.

Arsenal were considered favourites to sign the Argentinian that year but Arsène Wenger failed to do a deal. It remains to be seen if the north Londoners retain their interest Higuaín but Wenger is thought to be keen on signing a striker following the acquisition of midfielder Granit Xhaka from Borussia Mönchengladbach for £30m.