Arsenal Transfer News: Nabil Fekir Blow, Latest Gonzalo Higuain Rumours
Lyon are set to announce rumoured Arsenal target Nabil Fekir has inked a new deal with the club, according to French Football Weekly.
Such an agreement will put an end to the Gunners' link, which was previously reported by David Wright of the Express in June.
The attacking midfielder's committal could have Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger searching for offensive reinforcements elsewhere, as highlighted by Gazzetta dello Sport's claims (h/t Izzy Horsefield of the Express) that the north London side must up their bid for Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain.
It is claimed Arsenal have already submitted a £43 million offer for the Argentinian striker who scored 18 goals in Serie A last season. However, Horsefield's article indicates the Italian outfit won't accept anything less than Higuain's £66 million release clause. Even at the lower price, the striker's price tag is absurd.
Calciomercato (h/t Uche Amako of the Express) reports Higuain has told Napoli he wishes to leave the club. He would do so at a time of transition after the departure of boss Rafa Benitez, who recently joined Real Madrid. Napoli were unable to secure Champions League football for the 2015-16 campaign, another factor which can be added to Higuain's desire to move on.
Like Fekir, he would be considered a quality, yet non-essential signing for Arsenal. Wenger needs a striker who is regularly going to hit over 20 goals in the Premier League, someone to share the burden with Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott (if the manager continues to play Theo up top).
Higuain finished on 27 La Liga goals with Madrid in 2010 and 22 in 2012 before notching a combined total of 35 in his two seasons with the Partenopei. He is able to find space in the box and is a clever finisher when presented opportunities, but Higuain would struggle to add much to the rest of Arsenal's play.
The Argentinian has developed a reputation as a big-game bottler over the last year, having missed key chances in his nation's World Cup and Copa America final losses to Germany and Chile respectively. Squawka highlighted Higuain's recent record before he stepped up in the South American final shootout:
Back Page Football tweeted the striker's latest miss from the spot:
Arsenal fans are no doubt frustrated by the continued link to Higuain, having thought to have been close to a move in 2013, per Sid Lowe of the Guardian. They would be especially as he's done little to justify his release clause over the last season. Few would complain if he arrived, but there's bigger and better for this kind of money.
Wenger is on the verge of freeing up a little extra cash with the departure of Joel Campbell, according to football writer SamuelJayC:
"Turkish press say @Besiktas have agreed £3.6m fee with Arsenal for Campbell. Personal terms also agreed. pic.twitter.com/7oiS2PFHlh
— Sam (@samuelJayC) July 8, 2015"
B/R UK's Andy Brassell recently discussed which stars Wenger could bring in to improve on last season's third-place finish and FA Cup victory:
Arsenal supporters are unlikely to lose sleep over Fekir or Higuain. Wenger must spend well this summer, but doesn't need to be held to ransom over players who aren't guaranteed to be a huge success in the Premier League.
He has proven ruthless with the signing of goalkeeper Petr Cech, a feeling which will be added to if Campbell exits. This is a promising sign for the club who have rarely offered a genuine title challenge over the last decade.
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