The 25-year-old Higuain confirmed his desire to leave Spain after spending seven prolific seasons with the Galacticos. Having signed as a 20-year-old from River Plate back in January 2007, the Argentina international has gone on to 106 goals in 188 league matches, winning three La Liga titles and one Cope del Rey during his stay at the Bernabeu.

With his departure confirmed, a slew of clubs have been linked with the striker, most notably Juventus and Arsenal. The Old Lady is desperate to add more goals in their team and were targeting a move for Higuain to complement Llorente in attack next season.

However, the Italian champions are set to lose out to Arsenal who are very close to announcing a deal for the goal poacher. According to Metro, the Gunners are set to make Higuain their highest paid player ever after a deal worth £22 million edges near completion.

The report suggests that Higuain will earn wages worth £150,000-per-week, making him the highest paid player at the club, a cool £50,000 more than current top earners Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott.

The north London side have been expected to splash the cash this summer in a bid to reclaim their position in the upper echelons of English football. Even majority stakeholder Alisher Usmanov had said that the Gunners boss will be given the necessary finances to attract Europe’s top talent to the Emirates Stadium.

A striker being a priority for Wenger this summer, the Gunners had been linked with big money moves for Stevan Jovetic and Wayne Rooney among others. However, the Gunners are set to complete a major coup by signing highly-rated forward Higuain instead, who is keen to play his trade in the Premier League with Arsenal.

Earlier in June, he said, “There have already been offers and I hope that Madrid do the best for me and themselves.”

“Arsenal? They would suit me, I am still young and I have goals.”