Arsenal plot stunning summer hijack for £73.9m Manchester United target

Arsenal tried to sign Higuain from Real Madrid in 2013, but were beaten to the punch by Napoli.

He has gone on to be a great success in Italy, scoring an impressive 82 goals in just 140 appearances for the Serie A side.

Arsene Wenger went back in for the Argentina international last summer, but he was once again rebuffed as Napoli informed potential suitors that they would need to meet the player's huge buy-out clause of of £73.9m to do a deal.

Higuain's current contract doesn't expire until 2018, but he is yet to open talks over extending his stay at the Stadio San Paolo, sparking rumours that the 28-year-old could be on the move.

And FootballInsider claim that Arsenal are still keeping tabs on the striker in their bid to sign a world-class frontman who can score 30-plus goals a season.

The report notes that the new £5.1bn Premier League broadcasting deal comes into effect this summer, meaning the Gunners could in theory have no trouble meeting Higuain's mammoth release clause.