Arsenal considers offering Giroud for Napoli striker

Arsenal could make a huge splash in the transfer market by offering cash plus Olivier Giroud as part of a deal that would circumvent Gonzalo Higuain’s release clause .

Arsenal are ready to make an offer of €60 million plus Olivier Giroud for  Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain in one of the blockbuster moves of the summer.

Azzurri President Aurelio De Laurentiis already rejected an offer from Atletico Madrid last week, but could be intrigued by the idea of a player exchange.

A player of Giroud’s calibre would give the Neapolitans an instant replacement for Higuain, and the large transfer sum could allow them to reinforce other areas of the pitch.

For Arsenal, obtaining a striker like Higuain would keep them among the elite in the Premier League, a position they have held onto precariously over the past few seasons.

Heating up rumours of a potential move are the disconnect between club and player, with De Laurentiis wanting to keep the Argentine while his agent and brother have expressed their discontent.

“I feel affection towards Higuain both as a player and a man,” De Laurentiis said. “I’d like for him to remain at Napoli forever.”

Meanwhile, Nicolas Higuain expressed his disappointment with the club over contract renewal talks, as the Argentine’s current deal runs out in two years.

“Napoli weren’t correct in their approach in our meeting and we will not renew his contract,” he said.

Higuain also has a release clause of €94m inserted in his contract – whether Arsenal’s offer would offset that remains to be seen