Arsenal transfer news and rumours: Gunners face West Ham fight for Gonzalo Higuain; Chelsea join Arda Turan race

The latest transfer news and gossip to emerge from the Emirates corridors

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

Arsenal are reportedly preparing to engage in a fierce transfer battle with London rivals West Ham United in their efforts to sign Gonzalo Higuain from Napoli.

Arsene Wenger, the Gunners manager, is desperate to secure extra firepower this summer after already missing out on Jamie Vardy despite meeting the 29-year-old’s £20m release clause last month.

According to CalcioMercato, the Frenchman has switched his focus back to Higuain after failing with a succession of bids for the Argentina forward during his spell at Real Madrid.

The report adds that Wenger may even be prepared to offer Olivier Giroud up as part of a cash-plus-player deal which could see a fee in the region of €50m (£42.5m) being paid. However, West Ham are also interested in securing the 28-year-old’s services.

The Hammers are looking to make a series of high-profile signings before the new Premier League season to break in their move to the 60,000 capacity Olympic Stadium.

Meanwhile, Arsenal great Thierry Henry is said to have walked out on his coaching role at the Emirates Stadium after a disagreement with manager Wenger.

The Gunners boss is reported by The Sun to have warned Henry, who scored 175 goals across two spells in north London as a player, that he must choose between his role as a pundit for Sky Sports and his duties with the club.

Henry has been working with the academy with his former club four days a week in between his shifts with the digital broadcaster but is now likely to end his association with Arsenal after Wenger’s ultimatum.

It is suggested that Wenger has grown alarmed by henry’s ambitions to one day replace him as the Gunners’ manager and has taken precautionary measures before the urge to step up grows.

Arsenal have been made aware that they face competition from Chelsea for Barcelona midfielder Arda Turan as the Turk edges ever closer to the exit door at the Camp Nou.

The 29-year-old has struggled to make his mark in Catalonia after joining from Atletico Madrid last summer, opening up the possibility that he may leave to further enhance his career.

Arsenal and Chelsea are joined by Galatasaray and Fenerbahce on Turan’s lengthy list of suitors, according to Spanish newspaper Sport, but it remains to be seen whether he would be prepared to leave Barca when it comes to the moment to make a decision over his future.