Arsenal Transfer News: Gonzalo Higuain Blow, Latest Kevin Grosskreutz Rumours

Arsenal's hopes of signing up Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain have been dashed after the Serie A club's chairman insisted the Argentinian is not for sale.

Higuain has been linked with a move to Arsenal—and Liverpool—in recent weeks, with some suggesting the Napoli striker would be open to a January move, per Bruce Archer in the Daily Star.

But Archer reports Napoli chief Aurelio De Laurentiis's comments to Sky Sport 24, which effectively rule out any move for Higuain in the current window:

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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.

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The 27-year-old Higuain has been linked with Arsenal in the past, The Guardian's Sid Lowe reporting how close he came to a move to the Emirates back in 2013. 

He has bagged 10 goals in Serie A this season, per WhoScored.com, and would be a fine addition to the Gunners squad, although Arsenal are not necessarily short on attacking options.

In the likes of Olivier Giroud, Danny Welbeck, Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott they have plenty of forward options, as B/R UK's James McNicholas notes in his transfer roundup below, and missing out on Higuain should not be a huge blow for Arsene Wenger:

However, in other areas, Arsenal are somewhat lacking cover, hence why they have been linked with Borussia Dortmund's versatile utility man Kevin Grosskreutz.

According to Jamie Sanderson in Metro, the Gunners have tabled a £3.7 million bid for the 26-year-old, who can play several positions across the defence and in the midfield. 

He has made 15 league appearances so far this season and is a boyhood Arsenal fan, per Sanderson, although Bundesliga writer Alex Chaffer is skeptical about the link:

Grosskreutz would be a useful addition to the Arsenal squad, providing an option in his preferred right-back position while also able to cover a whole host of other areas.

Although he did not appear in a match, he was part of Germany's 2014 World Cup winning squad and would be terrific value at the quoted bid.

Arsenal need greater strength in defensive areas overall, as injuries have often exposed them so far this season, and Grosskreutz could provide essential depth.