If Arsenal fans felt their club might have been front runners for the signing of Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain, Calciomercato’s latest article on the saga might not be the update they wanted to hear.
The Italian website report as an exclusive that Exor, the investment company owned by the Agnelli family, have given Juventus the green light to go ahead with a transfer for the Argentinean striker.
Exor are the club’s main shareholders with 63.77%, and Calciomercato say their approval of the deal shows the intent the club have to win the Champions League in the near future.
Higuain is reportedly top of the list to help them achieve that dream, and Juventus are prepared to hand Max Allegri an ‘extra large budget’ this transfer window to complete ‘what would be the most sensational transfer in the recent history of Italian football’.
Exor are prepared to make a very large offer, more than what Arsenal and Atlético Madrid would be willing to spend on Higuain, but Aurelio De Laurentiis’ stubbornness in refusing to sell Higuain will ultimately prove to be the final obstacle.
The player’s brother and agent has reportedly met with Juventus more than once in recent weeks, and there is a willingness from the player to join Juventus as Higuain is reaching the point in his career where he wants to win as much as possible; something he would probably do more at Juventus than he would at either Arsenal and Atlético Madrid.
The sales of Simone Zaza (rumoured to be close to Wolfsburg) and Alvaro Morata would certainly help Juventus in amortising the purchase of Higuain, while the Alvaro Pereyra’s transfer from Juventus to Napoli would in no way help negotiations for the Argentina striker, as it’s just a case of the highest bidder getting their player.
These are rather big claims from Calciomercato, and we find it hard to believe they would make them without at least some information, whether it’s good or not.
By all means, this isn’t the end of all hope for Arsenal fans, but if true, Juventus are now in the lead.
