Arsenal make £43.4m transfer bid for Man United striking target

Arsenal have launched an approach for Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain, who is reportedly a transfer target of Manchester United, Manchester City Chelsea and Liverpool.

According to Corriere dello Sport [via the Metro], the Gunners have made a £43.4 million bid for the player, which has been rejected by Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis.

It remains to be seen whether Arsenal will improve their offer; the English paper report that Arsene Wenger is a ‘big fan’ of the frontman, but that the Serie A heavyweights will not countenance a sale at the fee proposed by the Gunners.

For his part, Higuain would likely be tempted by a move to the Emirates Stadium.

The forward has told Napoli he is keen to move this summer, in light of the departure of Rafael Benitez and the club’s failure to secure Champions League football for next season [Express].

The hitman has been a success in Naples since moving from Real Madrid in 2013, scoring 35 goals in 69 outings for the Partenopei.

According to the Metro, the striker would prefer a move to Liverpool—even though, unlike Arsenal, the Reds are not in the Champions League next season—and the 27-year-old would reportedly reject other offers in order to move to Anfield.

The tabloid previously noted that Napoli have slapped a £72 million price tag on the player.

Both Arsenal and Liverpool may yet face competition from Manchester United; with Radamel Falcao having left at the end of his loan deal, and Robin van Persie reportedly set to be on his way too [The Guardian], Louis van Gaal is in need of a new addition in attack.

According to the Express, United and their Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester City are considering a bid in order to gazump the Gunners and secure the elite Argentina frontman.