Olivier Giroud to Napoli: Arsenal ace open to £42m Gonzalo Higuain swap deal as the Gunners hunt Serie A hitman
Agent claims France striker would relish the chance to prove himself in Italy as Arsene Wenger plans audacious bid
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ARSENAL are reportedly ready to offer Olivier Giroud and £42million for Gonzalo Higuain.
And Giroud’s agent has talked up a deal by admitting his client would thrive at a club like Napoli.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is believed to be on the look-out for a new striker after failing to land Jamie Vardy from Leicester during Euro 2016.
Real Madrid ace and Chelsea target Alvaro Morata is on Wenger’s radar after recently returning to the Bernabeu from Juventus.
And Santos star Gabriel Barbosa is also a possibility after making his Brazil breakthrough at the Copa America, although he looks set to postpone a move to Europe for at least another year.
But Wenger is determined to secure the signature of a proven hitman after narrowly missing out on the Premier League title last season, with Giroud his only out-and-out forward available after Danny Welbeck suffered another long-term injury.
Wenger’s preference is to keep Giroud at the Emirates, with fellow Frenchman Alexandre Lacazette being lined up as a potential partner, but reports in Italy claim it could be all change in north London after Higuain – who has been linked with Liverpool – emerged as a serious contender to lead Arsenal’s line.
Journalist insists Wenger is ready to offer a cash-plus-player bid to land the Argentine forward, who wants a summer move after scoring 36 goals in 35 league appearances last season.
The player in question is Giroud, and RaiSport reporter has backed this claim after telling major sports station Radio CRC: “It comes to €50m (£42.2m) plus Giroud, but I know that the English club is ready to arrive at €60m (£50.6m).
“The Italians have already done a survey with the entourage of Giroud, but I’m not entirely convinced the attacker wants to move.
“Wenger has asked to get a meeting in London with Aurelio De Laurentiis, but we do not know if the president will agree to sit down at the table.
“The Gunners are ready to offer a contract of €8m (£6.8m) plus bonuses for four seasons.”
And speaking to the same radio station, agent Mickael Manuello confirmed that Giroud would love to ply his trade for Napoli, adding that his client would thrive due to the club’s style of football.
Manuello said: “At the moment, Giroud is an Arsenal player. If he was asked to leave, then we would evaluate our options. There is no fear in Olivier going to Napoli, it is a magnificent city.
“In Campania, my client would lead a wonderful life, not to mention that the type of game orchestrated by Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri could enhance the quality of a centre-forward like him.”