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With Arsenal in line for Champions League glory next term, the club have made it known they will be players on the transfer market this summer, willing to spend the money to compete for some of the top names available.

Among those names, Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain.

According to John Cross of Mirror Football, Arsenal are getting close to a deal to acquire the 25-year-old—a deal reportedly worth as much as £20 million:

Real president Florentino Perez has made it clear that Higuain is free to leave, and the Argentinian’s name has been circulated among Europe’s top clubs.



Arsenal boss Wenger is believed to have met Higuain and his father Jorge, who is also the 25-year-old's agent, in Paris, and they have now held further discussions about a potential move to the Emirates.

For a £20 million fee, Arsene Wenger will no doubt be weighing his options. The Emirates boss hasn’t exactly been a free spender in recent years, but he also hasn’t had full backing from the club until Arsenal secured a top-four finish this term.

If Arsenal are willing to finance the deal, Wenger shouldn’t have to think very long about pulling the trigger. Higuain is the piece the club needs to make a giant leap in 2013-14.

At 25, Higuain can be a key building block for Arsenal as they rejuvenate a roster that saw plenty of success last term. Paired with Theo Walcott and a bevy of talented complements, the Gunners would field a deadly scoring attack with Higuain in the fold.

Wenger hasn’t been shy about turning to the transfer market for potential stars this summer. Arsenal have already been linked to Stevan Jovetic, according to ESPN, and Wayne Rooney, via David Hytner of the Guardian, though neither situation appears to have taken a step forward.

For the price each player would require in a transfer, there are better options to weigh.

Higuain is one of those options. In fact, he’s arguably the best option considering the financial flexibility he would give Arsenal in pursuit of more talent this summer. For a young striker of his caliber, a £20 million fee isn’t unreasonable.

Wenger will have some competition for the 25-year-old, however. According to Tancredi Palmeri of CNN, Juventus have already entered a bid for Higuain:

That particular situation is all the more reason for Arsenal to pull the trigger on a deal for Higuain as soon as possible. Time is money, and in this case, Wenger could lose out on a lot more than money if he wastes time in striking a deal.