Making sense of the future of Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain – is he Arsenal or Napoli bound this summer transfer window?
Spanish publication AS reports that Arsenal have missed out to Napoli in the race to sign Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain, but the deal may not be as straightforward as it appears.
AS claim that Napoli have agreed a fee of €37 million (approximately £31.6m) for Higuain, and that the forward will sign a contract to receive a salary of €6m (£5.2m) per annum – an increase of €1m a year on his current salary with Los Meringues.
However, Times journalist Rory Smith does not believe that a deal is quite so close to fruition, meaning that the Gunners could yet have one final chance to salvage the signing of Higuain.
Here are his tweets in conversation with Sid Lowe, La Liga correspondent for the Guardian.
@sidlowe As far as I can tell, this will come as something of a surprise to Napoli.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmithTimes) July 22, 2013
To clarify comment to @sidlowe. No idea if Higuain to Napoli is done as As are saying, but last week the price was prohibitive for Napoli.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmithTimes) July 22, 2013
That may have changed, of course, and it might be announced tomorrow, or whenever. But never before has a move been "done" so often.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmithTimes) July 22, 2013
@sidlowe Was told €9m for Albiol, similar for Callejon. But four days ago they were adamant they couldn't meet Madrid's price on Higuain.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmithTimes) July 22, 2013
AS report that Arsenal were willing to pay up to €28 million (£24m) to sign Higuain, but were not willing to match Napoli’s €37m bid – a stance that former AS Monaco sporting director and current Guardian columnist Tor-Kristian Karlsen endorses.
Gonzalo Higuain off to Napoli for 37 million (via @English_AS), sensible stance by Arsenal to have pulled out of the race
— Tor-Kristian Karlsen (@karlsentk) July 22, 2013
Despite the confidence of AS in Napoli’s bid, this transfer saga may well run for a while yet.
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