Real Madrid have asked Arsenal to splash out £22 million to acquire the services of striker Gonzalo Higuain. This is quite a demand, considering Madrid have already declared that the striker will be leaving this summer.
Arsenal are looking to buy a striker this summer who can settle in as a regular starting member of the squad. The Gunners have also been linked with want-away Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, who has put in a transfer request at the club. Although Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed that the request has been declined, it is clear that Rooney intends to move away from the club.
According to Dailymail, Higuain has fallen down the pecking order at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema seemingly the first choice strikers at the club. The 25-year old has played just 27 matches in the Liga BBVA this season as compared to 35 matches last term. Manager Jose Mourinho has been packing the midfield, making use of utility midfielder Luka Modric, Mesut Ozil and Xabi Alonso in the unit. The striker’s role has been regularly given to Ronaldo, with Benzema coming off the bench.
Arsenal have been struggling with the form of Gervinho, who has played a limited number of games for the Gunners in the Barclays Premier League. Arsene Wenger will want to use the well-known finishing abilities of Higuain, which have helped the player score 104 goals for Madrid, while having played 187 matches.
The Gunners will be keeping two strike targets in Rooney and Higuain, in the hope to lure one of the two to the Emirates Stadium this summer. Comparing the situations at the individual clubs, Rooney wants out of United, while Madrid have made public that Higuain is surplus to requirements for next season.
However, while Rooney will want to switch to a club with higher ambitions, Higuain could take time to settle into the pace of the Premier League. Having seen past players like Andrey Shevchenko, who failed to produce the same spark that they did at their former clubs, Wenger will be very careful of the choice he makes.