Gonzalo Higuaín (L) and Olivier Giroud. (Photo : Getty Images)
English Premier League powerhouse Arsenal FC is set to present Olivier Giroud plus £42 million to Italian Serie A side SSC Napoli for Italy's top goalscorer, Gonzalo Higuaín, this summer.
Rumors went out that the Holloway, London residents are "ready to offer" their French striker and £42 million in cash in exchange for the Argentina international, who led the Serie A in scoring last term with an astonishing 36 goals in 35 appearances.
Overall in all competitions, the 28-year-old Higuaín netted 38 times in 42 games for the Naples-based football club last season, making him a highly sought-after player this offseason.
Rumors of an internal dispute with Napoli's senior officials made the anticipation of his Stadio San Paolo exit even louder in recent weeks, but there are still no official announcements if there is the possibility of such move.
Meanwhile, The Sun reported that Giroud's agent admitted that his "client would thrive at a club like Napoli" even after scoring only 16 goals in 38 appearances for the Gunners last term.
Arsenal head coach Arsene Wenger is said to be keen on finding "a new striker" for the team this summer "after failing to land Jamie Vardy from Leicester during Euro 2016".
Other previous targets for the 66-year-old veteran mentor are Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimović, Juventus' Alvaro Morata, Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette, and Santos' Gabriel Barbosa, but bids for the four forwards were unfruitful and so his eyes are now focused on Higuaín.
However, recent reports went out that Wenger does not want to include Giroud in the deal as he prefers the French international to stay at the Emirates for the foreseeable future.
Metro indicated that Wenger "pulls the plug" out of the potential Giroud- Higuaín upon learning that "news of the talks leaked".
"Wenger has blocked everything," local reporter Raffaele Auriemma said in a radio show. "Arsenal were upset by the leak and amazed that after a few hours everything was out in the open, so have taken a step back."
"Even (Napoli chairman Aurelio) De Laurentiis seems bitter, even angry, not because he wanted to sell Higuaín, but because he feels betrayed by his market consultant, who blabbed about several different rumors," the reporter added.
