Arsenal have moved to the front of the queue yet again to nab Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain after blowing Juventus' bid out of the water with an offer of €30 million (£25.5 million, $40 million).
Higuain is understood to be one of the Gunners' No.1 targets for the summer and Arsene Wenger is extremely keen on bringing the Argentine international to the Emirates.
Wenger has been given the biggest transfer budget in his 17-year spell this summer and the Frenchman is widely expected - or perhaps that should be hoped - to spend a considerable amount to bring in quality, with the likes of Marouane Fellaini and Julio Cesar reportedly close to sealing moves.
Higuain is also one of the prime targets for Juve and the Italian club only made an offer of around €22 million (£18.6 million, $29 million), and that too to be paid in five instalments, according to Marca.
Arsenal are ready to pay the entire transfer fee of €30 million (£25.5 million, $40 million) up front, the report suggests, making the English Premier League side now the favorites for Higuain's signature.
The 25-year-old has said he would be open to a move to Arsenal in the summer, while Juve is also thought to be high up on his list of preferred clubs.
Even if Juventus match Arsenal's offer -- assuming of course there is a semblance of truth to all the reports - Arsenal will be able to provide a bigger wage package which should swing the pendulum their way.
There have been some suggestions that the Higuain reports is a smokescreen sent out by Wenger to keep the Wayne Rooney to Arsenal talk out of the papers, while some have suggested it is exactly the opposite. But, either way, it is difficult to see Manchester United willing to sell Rooney to one of their rivals in the Premier League.
The Higuain deal does seem a whole lot more possible and the sooner Wenger can sort it out and complete a move, the better for Arsenal and the season that is looming large.
Cesar, Fellaini, Higuain - that sure would make every single Gooners' summer worth it wouldn't it?
