Real Madrid striker and Arsenal target Gonzalo Higuain has claimed that Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is desperate the sign the Argentine for his new club.

Mourinho was Higuain’s boss for his entire 3 year tenure at Madrid, with the 25-year-old striker now in his 6^th year with the Spanish club.

However Mourinho’s departure as Madrid boss and his recrowning at Stamford Bridge has sparked rumours that a number of players could follow the Portuguese boss to England from Spain.

Arsenal bound

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been confident of signing Higuain since the first days of the transfer window, with the deal being close on numerous occasions. Alongside Luis Suarez and Wayne Rooney, the search for a marquee signing goes on at the Emirates.

Despite Jose Mourinho claiming during the week that Wayne Rooney from United was their one and only target – having submitted a £20million bid, not involving any swap deals he insisted – Higuain remained adamant that the Chelsea boss wants his signature:

‘Mourinho wants me to go there,’ said Higuain.

‘He wants me to join him at Chelsea.’ The striker reiterated, while speaking to Spanish paper AS’s journalists.

Wanted man

Arsenal could miss the boat on Higuain after it was also confirmed that he was in talks with Napoli. In a Twitter Q&A by Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis, he confirmed that the Italian side have €124million in the bank for transfer funds, and that moves for Higuain and Leandro Damiao were true.

With all this apparent interest surrounding Higuain, Arsene Wenger must be careful not to miss out as he attempts to split funds for a £40million Luis Suarez deal, a deal which has caused the Higuain saga to rumble on endlessly.

Mind games

If Mourinho’s recent statements are true, then Higuian’s claim could just be a clever ploy to get his transfer to Arsenal quicker. Mourinho recently claimed:

“We have not bid for anyone else,” he said. “And we won’t. It is Rooney or bust.”

“I think that this situation now is clear, because nothing is a secret any more.”

So, either Mourinho could be playing mind games in order to rush the signing of Wayne Rooney, or Gonzalo Higuain could be playing mind games in order to panic Arsenal into a quick transfer to the Emirates.

So who’s bluffing?

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