Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Edinson Cavani and Gonzalo Higuain Rumours

Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani is relying on Arsenal to hand him an escape from the French capital this summer, while reports have emerged stating the Gunners will move for Gonzalo Higuain in January.  

Uruguay international Cavani hopes the Gunners will help him secure an exit from the Parc des Princes, according to Spanish outlet Fichajes.net, due to competition in his current setting, per Metro's Will Giles:

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The 28-year-old is reportedly willing to do what he can to force a move through, although the decision over his sale will ultimately rest with PSG’s board.

Cavani has been ever-present for PSG so far this season, but could find his position under threat when Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Angel di Maria are brought into the fold by Laurent Blanc.

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Manager Arsene Wenger's search for a new star striker looks likely to continue up to and possibly past Tuesday's transfer window deadline, with the north Londoners still seeking competition for Olivier Giroud.

TalkSPORT's Ian Abrahams alleges the Ligue 1 champions aren't looking to cash in on Cavani, but Arsenal are pressing ahead in their attempts to lure him from the French capital:

As things stand, Zlatan Ibrahimovic looks likely to lead manager Laurent Blanc's line once again this season before his contract comes to an end next summer, allowing him to leave PSG for free.

Bleacher Report recently sat down with the 33-year-old to talk about this season's Champions League prospects and what lies ahead for one of football's most dangerous strikers.

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It therefore appears odd that Cavani would choose to leave PSG just as his opportunity to claim the lead attacking role opens, with Ibrahimovic's exit granting him the reprieve he's been seeking since 2013.

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Johnson disagrees with Abrahams, insisting Cavani will not leave Paris this summer following several statements from the French titans:

Danny Welbeck was brought in on transfer deadline day last year as backup to Giroud, but the England international has hardly hit the ground running in north London, with just eight goals for the Gunners so far.

Despite being fielded out of position for much of his PSG tenure, Cavani remains a valued piece of their puzzle, making any last-gasp move difficult to envision with no replacement lined up by Blanc's side.

Gunners Biding Their Time in Higuain Hunt

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Arsenal will hold off until January before making their move for Napoli frontman Higuain, according to Fichajes.net, in the hopes manager Maurizio Sarri's side are willing to lower their asking price, per the Daily Star's Marc Williams.

Such hopes are likely to end in tears, though, as the winter transfer window is largely regarded as a more difficult period in which to do business, and Wenger doesn't sit among its supporters.

Higuain was heavily involved for Napoli last season and scored 29 goals in 56 appearances across all competitions, the kind of ever-present threat he's been seeking up front.

However, Argentina boss Gerardo Martino doesn't believe his international star will be moving after enjoying such strong form in Naples, according to South American football expert Rupert Fryer:

Williams mentions that Napoli are seeking a massive £59 million fee for their star, the kind of money it's difficult to envision Arsenal spending midway through the campaign.

Wenger has voiced his dislike for the winter transfer window as recently as February, telling the official Arsenal website he wishes to see it scrapped in future:

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It pushes even more an idea forward - let's completely get rid of [the transfer window], and go from season to season with the same players. Yes [I would scrap January transfers] because it can disturb the cohesion of a group within the season.

When the players don’t play in October or the end of September, they already think that they may move in January. You lose them and in our job it’s important that everybody is on board. I find the transfer window [a disturbance].

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It's also hard to imagine Napoli wanting less for their talisman in the midst of a Serie A campaign—especially if Higuain is enjoying good form—where replacements are generally harder to secure.

Unless Wenger succeeds in acquiring extra firepower in the week to come, Arsenal will likely rely on Giroud as their star striker for the season, with too many factors working against them in a winter hunt for Higuain.