Arsenal transfer news: Gonzalo Higuain to 'agree new contract' in bid to lower release fee and leave Napoli

Higuain has two years left to run on his contract and his record-breaking season with Napoli has caught the eye of Arsenal and Chelsea

Jack de Menezes
Tuesday 17 May 2016 11:11 BST
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Gonzalo Higuain is being linked with a Premier League move to either Arsenal or Chelsea
Gonzalo Higuain is being linked with a Premier League move to either Arsenal or Chelsea

Gonzalo Higuain could sign a new contract with Napoli in a bid to force a move away from the Italian club as the former Real Madrid striker is attempting to lower his release clause.

Arsenal have been linked with a move for Higuain, three years after missing out on his signature when Napoli out-bid the Gunners in the summer transfer window of 2013. Higuain moved to Italy in a €40m deal, with Arsenal failing to land a striker and instead bringing in Mesut Özil in a £42.4m club-record transfer.

The 28-year-old is coming off not only his most successful season in Italy, but the best goalscoring year ever seen in Serie A after netting 36 goals in 35 league matches, a feat no other player has managed in the Italian top flight, but the club are concerned about his future as he has just two years left to run on his current contract.

Higuain’s future in Naples has come under question though, with Arsenal and Chelsea showing interest in the Argentina international and Napoli legend Diego Maradona calling on the club to sell the striker in order to bring in a handful of players with the money generated by his sale.

According to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, Higuain is considering agreeing a new contract with the club on the terms that his release clause is lowered from its current fee of £74m to a more attractive £46m - £3.5m more than Arsenal paid for Özil in 2013.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that he is already active in the transfer market, with plans to bring in “two or three players” this summer welcome news for fans who were left frustrated at the Frenchman’s inability to bring any outfield players to the club last year.

Conte is said to be a fan of Higuain and could move for him in the summer (AFP)

Chelsea have also been linked with a move for the former Real striker once incoming manager Antonio Conte takes charge of the team, with the current Italy head coach seeing first-hand what the forward is capable of having faced him during his time in charge of Juventus.

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