Chelsea Transfer News: Gonzalo Higuain Blow, Latest on Loic Remy Exit Rumours

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis says reported Chelsea transfer target Gonzalo Higuain has committed his future to the Partenopei, while Fenerbahce are said to be interested in Blues ace Loic Remy. 

Higuain has been linked with a host of clubs after a phenomenal 2015-16 campaign, with Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid all said to be interested, per FourFourTwo.

Ciro Fusco/Associated Press

It was previously claimed on beIN Sports (h/t Anthony Chapman of the Sun) that Liverpool were working on a deal as well, and Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge also opened the door for a move, per Goal's David Manuca. TransferMarketWeb (h/t Daily Star's Jamie Anderson) believe Arsenal are also interested.

But De Laurentiis doesn't believe the Argentina international will be leaving Napoli anytime soon, telling Radio Kiss Kiss (h/t FourFourTwo) he has already told him he wants to stay with the Partenopei:

"

If his words are sincere then Higuain will play in Naples for at least another five years.

I am willing to extend his contract, I appreciate him both as a player and a person.

I would like him to stay in Naples forever.

He is one of a kind, he plays for the pleasure of scoring goals which is what makes every genuine and self-respecting attacker. 

"

The former Real Madrid star scored a remarkable 36 goals in just 35 Serie A matches last season, tying a single-season record that had stood since 1929, before the Italian top division was reformed to the Serie A.

He played a huge part in Napoli's title challenge which ultimately fell short, as Juventus passed the Partenopei in the standings in the second half of the season. The team's failure to once again break the Bianconeri dominance led to plenty of transfer speculation, as the 28-year-old has won little silverware since moving to Italy.

Here's a look at some of his top highlights of the past season:

While his success hasn't fully carried over to the national team―he's found the net in just one of Argentina's Copa America 2016 matches―there's every reason to believe he would transition well to a new club or league.

Higuain is one of the world's most complete strikers, perfectly capable of playing in space or with his back to goal. He's a threat on the counter-attack and can create space for himself, but he also has excellent instincts and times his runs very well.

The 28-year-old is of vital importance to Napoli, who are desperate for some silverware, and he will cost teams a pretty penny if he does move. Per football writer Pete O'Rourke, Atletico have already confirmed they're no longer in the race for his signature:

Per La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t the Sun's Lee Astley), Higuain's contract contains an enormous £72 million buyout clause, and in all likelihood, teams will have to trigger the full amount to sign the Argentinian.

That's a huge chunk of money for a player who has a tendency to disappear when he plays for his national team, but his 2015-16 campaign was no fluke. Scoring 36 goals in the defensive-minded Serie A is a feat few players would be capable of, so any team looking for an ace scorer should think long and hard about coughing up the cash.

Elsewhere, the Daily Mirror's Darren Lewis reported Turkish side Fenerbahce will once again try to sign Remy after failing with a loan offer last January. The Turks will reportedly offer the Blues £7 million for his services.

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

Incoming manager Antonio Conte is expected to overhaul the squad, and few fans expect Remy to be part of his plans. The Frenchman has flashed his talent for the club, but a lack of consistent playing time has held him back.

He proved a valuable Premier League contributor during his time with Newcastle United and Queens Park Rangers, and in all likelihood, there will be a handful of teams interested in his services once the transfer window opens.

Per Lewis, Chelsea paid QPR £10.5 million for Remy back in 2014, but even though transfer prices have gone up since then, his inactivity means he'll likely fetch a lower fee this time around.

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