Arsenal: This is The World-Class Striker Arsene Wenger Failed to Sign
Napoli FC President Aurelio De Laurentiis has revealed Arsenal attempted to take Gonzalo Higuain to Emirates Stadium in the summer.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was after a top striker but missed out on his principal targets, eventually settling for Lucas Perez of Deportivo La Coruna on August 31.
And De Laurentiis, who sold Higuain to Serie A rivals Juventus for £75.3 million ($93.7 million) at the end of July, confirmed Wenger had also been interested in the prolific Argentina international.
"We received a request from Arsenal," De Laurentiis told Standard Sport.
"Personally I also received a request from Atletico Madrid but they didn't put enough money on the table.
"We were not ready to sell him—for me Higuain was not for sale.
"One year earlier I offered another five-year contract to Higuain and his brother. 'I will offer to you x'. It was more money than what he is getting right now from Juventus."
Higuain, 28, was eventually sold after Juventus met his release clause to make him the fourth most expensive transfer of all time.
Wenger's team has made a fine start to the season, sitting third in the English Premier League after seven games, just two points off leaders Manchester City.
But it is not hard to see how one of the world's top strikers like Higuain might have aided Wenger further, as he seeks to bring a first league title to Emirates Stadium since 2003-04.
