Chelsea have entered the race to sign Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain, according to Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis.

Arsenal have been keen to sign Higuain, 25, this summer and were thought to be close to a deal, before De Laurentiis confirmed his side are in talks to sign the Argentina international earlier this week.

However, there now appears to be another club chasing the former River Plate man, with the Blues apparently expressing an interest.

"As well as Arsenal, Chelsea are now also interested," De Laurentiis told Tuttomercato.

And Chelsea could now be favourites for Higuain's signature as, according to AS, the striker is keen to reunite with his former Madrid boss Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues, though, will have to pay the €40 million asking price that Los Blancos are demanding - something that has reportedly proved a stumbling block for their London rivals Arsenal.

Marca claims that the Gunners are refusing to offer more than €26m for Higuain, and although they have agreed terms with the player, they have yet to make a formal approach.

Arsenal and Chelsea are also closely monitoring the situation of Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and Liverpool's Luis Suarez, and Marca says that Higuain would be Mourinho's "plan B" should the Rooney deal not come off.

Madrid's €40m price tag is putting off potential suitors, and Higuain, who scored 16 La Liga goals last season, is beginning to get frustrated.

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