Arsenal and Juventus have been told they will have to pay £25.5million to sign Gonzalo Higuain from Real Madrid.

Real president Florentino Perez is understood to have held talks with officials from the Serie A club at the weekend, while the Gunners have also made contact in a bid to make the 25-year-old their first major summer signing.

Perez is demanding €30m (£25.5m) for Higuain but although Arsenal have indicated they are prepared to break their club record, it is believed they value the striker at around £20m.

Italian champions Juve are thought to have so far only offered £18.7m but negotiations with both clubs are continuing as manager Arsene Wenger prioritises a top-class centre-forward to bolster his attacking options.

Wenger has also closely monitored another forward, Stevan Jovetic, who has now indicated he will leave Fiorentina.

Juventus, who failed to land a number of top strikers last summer before signing Nicklas Bendtner from Arsenal on a season-long loan, are also keen on Jovetic but Chelsea have emerged as the main contenders to rival the Gunners for his signature. Fiorentina’s initial £30m asking price has stalled talks but Jovetic’s suitors believe a deal can be done in the region of £22m, particularly after he confirmed his intention to move clubs.

“I’ve been at Fiorentina since 2008 [and had] five very intense seasons,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport. “I really feel like I’ve given everything. I’m young and ambitious and it is normal to feel the need to test myself elsewhere. I do not think there’s anything wrong with desire.

“The fans have always asked me to be up front: so here it is. I need stimulation elsewhere, I need to devote myself in a top club. I’ve played in Europe with Fiorentina, now I want to win in Europe.”

Jovetic is keen on a switch to Juventus but kept his options open by hinting he could also be interested by a move to England or Spain. “For a year, Juventus have said they want me,” added Jovetic. “I come before Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Carlos Tevez and Gonzalo Higuain in their list. Who would not be flattered?

“With [Juventus boss Antonio] Conte I feel that I could continue to grow. I think the feeling is mutual.

“But the Premier League is also fantastic, as is La Liga. I have some opportunities so we’ll see.”