Arsenal finally seem poised to put their money where their mouth is, to break the bank for a bona fide, world class player.
Gunners fans have been crying out for the club to dip into its steadily swelling coffers, in order to purchase the kind of player(s) that will bring about the end of their almost decade-long trophy drought.
And Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain appears to be the first watershed signing in the London club’s parsimonious history.
Overnight reports suggest that ‘Pipita’ has agreed to join the Gunners on a four-year deal worth an estimated £130 000 per week.
The transfer fee for Higuain is thought to be in the region of £22-25 million.
That would make the classy Argentine international finisher Arsenal’s most expensive ever player, ahead of current record signing Andrey Arshavin, who joined for £15 million in 2009.
Arsenal are apparently confident that Higuain will sign on the dotted line before they jet off to Asia for their pre-season tour on 11 July.
And all that stands in the way of the player’s desired departure from the Bernabeu is the OK from Real Madrid’s incoming manager, expected to be Carlo Ancelotti.
Higuain felt under-utilised at Real last season by former manager Jose Mourinho, and the club has circulated his name to potential buyers.
Juventus had been thought to be leading the race for Higuain’s signature, and his capture would represent a coup for the Gunners. It would also go some way towards finally erasing the painful memory of Robin van Persie’s defection to Manchester United.
