Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Gonzalo Higuain and Marcelo Brozovic Rumours

Italian clubs have set up a roadblock in Arsenal's pursuit of winter targets after it came to light that Napoli will keep hold of Gonzalo Higuain and Inter have seemingly won the race for Marcelo Brozovic.

Speaking to Sky Sport 24 (h/t Daily Star's Bruce Archer), Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis effectively ruled out any chance of his Argentinian striker leaving this month, proclaiming:

"

I have no intention of selling Higuain. We are strengthening the team and will buy other reinforcements. We have to do this in a methodical manner, not by chance. If we can’t find the right ones in January, we’ll get them in June. I know we must reinforce the midfield and the defence.

"

The news comes on the same weekend that Villarreal confirmed Gabriel Paulista would be heading to the Emirates Stadium, per BBC Sport, with Joel Campbell moving in the opposite direction on a six-month loan.

With Wenger having finally brought in a much-needed defensive recruit, it leaves the Gunners clear to pursue targets in other areas, Higuain understood to have been one.

Marco Vasini/Associated Press

Olivier Giroud made his return to fitness at the beginning of the year to ease Danny Welbeck further away from the starting XI, but Wenger is seemingly keen to add other attacking options.

David Amoyal of GianlucaDiMarzio.com provided further quotes from the Napoli owner, as well as adding his opinion that a Higuain departure looks highly unlikely:

Alexis Sanchez sits as an alternative striking presence for the north Londoners should Welbeck and Giroud suffer injury again, meaning Wenger isn't quite desperate for additions in that area.

Bleacher Report's Matteo Bonetti recently argued that it's Anfield, and not the Emirates, at which Higuain would make for the perfect fit:

Elsewhere, Inter have left the north Londoners disappointed in their pursuit of Brozovic after reports emerged the Nerazzurri had sealed an £8.5 million deal for the Croatian.

Neil Moxley of the Mirror reported on the deal, which will see the Dinamo Zagreb wonder join up with international compatriot Mateo Kovacic in Roberto Mancini's midfield.

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Given his talents in a more advanced position, Brozovic may not have fit in with Arsenal's need to land a more defensively anchored midfielder this winter, but the loss is a blow nonetheless.

Inter are a team clearly looking to improve in the latter half of the Serie A season, with Amoyal praising the club's recruitment policy this month:

Twenty-two-year-old Brozovic will head to Italy as one of his nation's most promising prospects and will look to make a similar San Siro impact to the one that Kovacic has managed in recent seasons.

For Arsenal, though, it's another blow in the transfer market which will see the club return to the drawing board if they are to switch their attention to midfield acquisitions for the remaining week of the window.