Having missed out on Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, Arsenal FC are now supposedly plotting a move for Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain. According to Sky Sports sources, the Argentine scorer is a target of Arsene Wenger.
Paul Vinnell writes that:
Sky in Italy has reported that no offer has been forthcoming from the Gunners, but say “intermediaries” have been in contact with the Argentina striker’s brother who acts as his agent.
Higuain – top scorer in Serie A last season with 36 goals – would cost Arsenal a club record fee. That has led to speculation in Italy that Giroud may be used as part of a player-plus-cash deal.
In recent transfer windows, Gonzalo Higuain has been linked to both Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, with a valuation approximated to be around £31 million, but in this market, the price would be much much higher. As for the Arsenal player rumored to be going the other way, it’s striker Olivier Giroud.
It’s a deal that would make a lot of sense as Giroud’s agent has said that his client would enjoy playing in Serie A. Also, with Wenger entering a contract year soon, coupled with talk of his potentially taking the England managerial job, 2016-17 could be his last stand for a league title.
In order to get that title, he truly needs to go all in for a top class goal scorer.
Arsenal did not buy a single outfield player last summer transfer window, so this should be the summer where they truly go all out and carpe diem in the transfer market. There’s plenty of time left to make something happen, as the window doesn’t close until August 31st.
Giroud’s agent, Mickael Manuello, told Radio CRC: “There is no fear in Olivier going to Napoli, it is a magnificent city.”
“In Campania, my client would lead a wonderful life, not to mention that the type of game orchestrated by Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri could enhance the quality of a centre-forward like him.”
Of course though, Manuello had to add in the standard: “At the moment, Giroud is an Arsenal player. If he was asked to leave, then we would evaluate our options.”
At least that’s what Manuello said on the 14th, today he’s changing his tune, saying his client is not on the move.
“Everything I’ve read on the Giroud is not true. I personally have only said that if Arsenal want to sell it, then we will see,” Manuello told TuttoMercatoWebb.
“I do not know where [the Napoli story] came from. We never talked to Naples and there are no other persons appointed over me that can do this, we need to clarify this.”
He is an agent though, so remember to take everything he says, at all times, with a whole lot of caution.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication.
He also consistently appears on numerous talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram