Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Alexandre Pato, Gonzalo Higuain, Top Rumours

Sao Paulo striker Alexandre Pato has emerged as the latest addition to Arsenal's summer transfer shortlist, while Italian giants Napoli are less likely to let Gonzalo Higuain leave their ranks, according to reports.

FourFourTwo writer Emanuelle Giulianelli claims Pato is a target for the Gunners, who remain in the hunt for back-up to front man, Olivier Giroud, per Metro's Jamie Sanderson:

Giulianelli went on to say that with a replacement more difficult to come upon given the late hour of the transfer window, it's unlikely Higuain will be moving anywhere:

Pato hasn't featured in Europe for almost three years, having completed a move back to his native Brazil in January 2013. He's played for Corinthians and current club Sao Paulo since the move.

However, the Gunners may be pleased the forward has enjoyed something of a renaissance in 2015, hitting 21 goals in 42 appearances for an average of a goal every other game, the most prolific season of his career to date.

Andre Penner/Associated Press

Pato left Milan two-and-a-half years ago with his reputation in tatters after failing to live up to expectations at the San Siro, returning to Brazil with the intention of reviving that lost potential.

Talk of a European comeback has emerged this summer, but BBC's John Bennett and Tom Collomosse of the London Evening Standard both insist the player's entourage may be responsible for that buzz:

A more current European force would be Napoli's Higuain, a player in hot form for the Naples outfit after netting a brace on Sunday as his side claimed a 2-2 draw against Sampdoria.

Kike Marin of Spanish newspaper El Confidencial recently suggested the Gunners remained interested in the Argentina international, but Giulianelli's claims that Napoli aren't seeking a replacement forward don't bode well:

Regardless of how desperate Arsenal are to sign another attacker, the sheer magnitude of any prospective deal is what makes it so unbelievable, with Metro's Sanderson reporting of Higuain's £69.1 million release clause.

If Wenger did make a last-gasp move to sign the forward, it would easily surpass previous deals to sign Mesut Ozil (£42.5 million) and Alexis Sanchez (£35 million) for a new club-record deal.

Salvatore Laporta/Associated Press

Not only would Higuain be considered an upgrade on Giroud by many, but the Real Madrid striker would also offer Wenger something closer to a No. 9 in attack, a more malleable spearhead to lead his side.

Higuain is in good form, too, after getting his Serie A season off to a bright start with the two-goal display against Sampdoria, according to WhoScored.com:

With mere hours left in the summer transfer window, Arsenal are still yet to sign a senior outfield player, and the £10 million forked out on goalkeeper Petr Cech remains their only major deal.

It seems the club is still working to tie up a solution at the other end of the field, but it may come to be a case of too little, too late as Arsenal strive to capture some form of offensive recruit.