Arsenal Transfer News: Gonzalo Higuain Contract Refusal Amid Chelsea Rumours

Gonzalo Higuain’s agent and brother has confirmed the striker will not sign a new contract with Napoli in a potential boost for Arsenal and Chelsea, both of whom are said to be interested in signing the player.

According to Calciomercato.com, the player is also unhappy at the €98 million (£80.9 million) release clause included in his current terms and feels as though he is being "held to ransom" by his current club.

The 28-year-old was outstanding for the Serie A side in 2015-16, scoring 36 league goals. However, Higuain’s brother, Nicolas, has told radio show Closs Continental (h/t Vaishali Bhardwaj of the London Evening Standard) he will not be committing his future to the club, with two years left on his current deal:

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This is the situation. The president is asking for the clause to be paid to let go of Gonzalo, and we have the right to refuse to renew.

We arrived at Napoli with the promise of a successful project, playing in the Champions League and winning the Scudetto, with improved facilities and a desire to grow. It wasn't right of the club to ignore those commitments.

Aurelio De Laurentiis has every right to demand the clause in his contract be paid, but my brother and I have decided not to accept a renewal.

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His agent also said he is unsure whether a club will be able to buy the forward but insisted that any offer from Napoli “absolutely won't be renewed if things stay this way.” Per Bhardwaj, both Arsenal and Chelsea have been linked with a move for the striker this summer.

Higuain’s goalscoring lit up the Italian top flight last term as he dragged Napoli into a title pursuit that ultimately came up just short. Here is a look at some of his best moments from a memorable campaign:

For Arsenal fans, links to Higuain are familiar. In 2013, the club were poised to complete a deal for the then-Real Madrid man, according to Sid Lowe of the Guardian. However, the transfer fell through, and the Argentina international opted to join Napoli.

Given his subsequent performances and Arsenal’s own struggles up top, it’s a failed transfer many tied to the Gunners have since lamented.

The one question mark when it comes to Higuain is his propensity to go missing in big games, especially on the international stage, per Squawka Football:

For Arsenal, he’d be a significant upgrade. Olivier Giroud is a functional forward who chips in with plenty of goals, while Danny Welbeck, when fit, is a versatile option to use in the final third.

Higuain’s predatory instincts would give the Gunners an extra threat in the penalty area, which is something manager Arsene Wenger has lacked for a while.

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The player turns 29 later this year and would cost a significant amount of money to prise away from Napoli with two seasons left to run on his contract.

Even so, Higuain could be the vital piece in pushing the Gunners to the Premier League title. As noted by OptaPaolo, the striker has long been one of the most lethal finishers in the game:

The Partenopei will not want to sell their main man, particularly with the UEFA Champions League back at the Stadio San Paolo again in 2016-17. Losing so many goals would be a massive blow to manager Maurizio Sarri, as Napoli seek to build a team capable of challenging Juventus for the Serie A title.

A Premier League move would surely appeal to the player, though, especially to a side like Arsenal, who have so many brilliant creators in attacking midfield.

Higuain would be able to enjoy some outstanding service at the Emirates Stadium, and if he could make the most of it, silverware would be on display more frequently in north London.