'Gonzalo Higuain is now closer to Arsenal': Gunners hope to sign Argentine striker in next 8 days after Carlo Ancelotti confirmed as Real Madrid manager
Arsenal hope to finally
sign Gonzalo Higuain before the start of pre-season training following the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.
The Gunners are c
onfident they will sign the Argentina international for a club record fee - said to be £22m - before July 4, according to reports.
Higuain's brother claims the Gunners are set to clinch his signature, he told Italian website Tuttomercatoweb.com: "If Tevez joins Juve, is Higuain closer to Arsenal? I think so.
"Juventus is a great club, but Gonzalo is too expensive for them.
"Napoli are a strong team. Having said that,
I cannot deny that Gonzalo is now close to Arsenal."
The developments yesterday will finally see Higuain depart the Bernabeu with
Ancelotti expected to sanction the move to Arsenal.
Arsenal have agreed personal terms and a transfer fee in principle but the move has been delayed until Ancelotti's appointment following the departure of Jose Mourinho.
Ancelotti joins the Spanish giants on a three-year contract with former France manager Laurent Blanc replacing the Italian at PSG on a two-year deal.
The appointments are set to spark a number of moves which have been held up by the managerial uncertainty at both clubs.
Juventus have seemingly let Arsenal win the race for Higuain after agreeing the £10m signing of Carlos Tevez from Manchester City.
Manchester City agreed the sale of Carlos Tevez to Juventus for £10m – at least a third of the fee they paid for him – though with personal terms yet to be agreed they face an anxious wait as the Premier League outfit seek to offload his £200,000-a-week wages.
Arsenal are prepared to pay a record-breaking transfer fee and make Higuain the club's best paid player to ensure they capture their first major summer transfer target.
He is expected to command wages of £125,000-a-week - taking him above current highest earners Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski.
Arsenal's previous record transfer fee was the £15m paid to Zenit St Petersburg for Andrey Arshavin in 2009.
Higuain has scored 107 La Liga goals for Real Madrid in six and a half seasons with only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo scoring more than him in that period.
Reports suggest Ancelotti will complete his first signing this week with the capture of former Manchester City target Isco. The 21-year-old Malaga midfielder is set for a £25m move to Real Madrid.
Higuain & Fellaini standing on the Emirates pitch holding Arsenal shirts on July 1st 
