The saga takes another half-step forward. According to the Telegraph's Jeremy Wilson - one of the journalists on Twitter who usually isn't totally full of crap, to my recollection - Arsenal and Real Madrid are essentially just hanging out, waiting to announce a deal for Gonzalo Higuain.

On Higuain to arsenal, deal agreed in principle with player and club. But Real stalling on signing it off b4 new manager's in place — Jeremy Wilson (@JWTelegraph) June 24, 2013

@MDemmayy Juve are also interested and things can always change but sense Arsenal are pretty confident — Jeremy Wilson (@JWTelegraph) June 24, 2013

If you've been following this deal for a while, like I have, you probably want to hang yourself this isn't really something that should surprise you that much, although it hasn't really been put out there so explicitly until now. For a while we've known that nothing's going to happen until Real Madrid announce Carlo Ancelotti whoever they might end up hiring, but this is the first I think we've heard that there's a chance that everything is actually agreed. Hopefully Wilson is right, and this will all be over soon.

Soon, in fact, might even be tomorrow, if our cousin blog Managing Madrid's sources are right.

Short update on Ancelotti's situation: He will LIKELY be announced as Real Madrid's coach tomorrow. — Managing Madrid (@managingmadrid) June 24, 2013

Florentino Pérez: "If everything goes well, we'll announce Isco's signing briefly, shortly after the coach's". — Managing Madrid (@managingmadrid) June 24, 2013

So, if things go like they usually do, and Wilson is actually right, it's not crazy to think that we could have an announcement on Higuain as soon as Thursday. That would be a little fast for an Arsenal transfer announcement, but Tuesdays and Thursdays tend to be Announcement Days, and, well, Ancelotti is tomorrow.

In short, one step closer to the edge. And one more person added to my list of slapping victims, should the deal fail.