Arsenal have made Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain their top target for the summer, as part of a big spending initiative.

Arsenal plan to recruit a new player for every central position to improve the spine of their side and have identified the Argentinian as a realistic but ambitious target to improve their attack.

Options

Arsenal have scouted, among others, Stevan Jovetic, Wayne Rooney and even Higuain’s Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema as potential striking targets, but feel Higuain is the best and most realistic option, in terms of instant impact and price.

A fee of around £19m could secure Higuain, though any deal would be delayed until the arrival of Real’s new manager (Jose Mourinho was confirmed to be departing yesterday).

What is clear is that Arsenal are dead set on recruiting a world-class forward to kick-start a Premier League title challenge next season. While Yaya Sanogo will join, he is simply a squad player, an option for the future. Another forward will definitely join.

Ambition

Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis has backed up press reports of an ambitious plan for the club, saying:

“It is important to reiterate that for everyone at the club, qualification for the Champions League is not our ultimate ambition.

Our majority owner Stan Kroenke has made it clear that while it’s an achievement to make the Champions League our ultimate objective is to win the major trophies.

We all share that clear ambition and will be driving the club forward to achieve it. Arsène and I have already been planning what we need to do to strengthen so we are better placed next season. The club is in a very strong position to move forward and our form of losing just one of our last 16 Premier League matches shows that we have a solid foundation on which to build for success.”

It may be we’ll have to rethink our opinions of the Arsenal hierarchy. Still, nothing is done yet, the season has only just finished, but Arsenal definitely seem to mean business this time around.

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