Chelsea target Gonzalo Higuain is reportedly closing in on completing his move to the Premier League heavyweights, with his agent arriving in London
According to a report by London Evening Standard, Chelsea have inched closer to securing the services of Gonzalo Higuain in this month’s transfer window. The Argentine striker’s agent arrived in London on Thursday morning, possibly to sound out the Premier League outfit’s offer.
Higuain has enjoyed quite an extraordinary career, at least at club level, initially making his name at Real Madrid before going on to garner the reputation of being one of the most best strikers in the world upon his move to Italy. In particular, the veteran striker became a fearsome force at Napoli, before he joined Juventus in the summer of 2016.
Higuain enjoyed mild success at Juventus, before the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo forced him to move on loan to AC Milan. While the 31-year-old has been a key figure for the Rossoneri this season, he is believed to have had his head turned by the interest from Chelsea, who are in need of a top class striker.
The Blues have taken to life under Maurizio Sarri considerably well, with a swift return to the top four in the offing. But, the Premier League heavyweights have had their fair share of problems too this season, with the Chelsea boss bereft of a reliable striker in his squad.
Sarri does have Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud in his squad, with Michy Batshuayi set to return to Stamford Bridge after his loan deal with Valencia was cut short. But, none of the strikers have displayed the qualities required to lead the line for a top class side like Chelsea, who have been heavily reliant on Eden Hazard as a result.
Higuain is thus, a viable target for Chelsea, who can have a short-term solution in a striker who is a proven quantity and can help take some burden off Hazard. The deal for the 31-year-old though, was believed to be a complicated one, with three clubs involved in the negotiations.
There is likely to be a hold-up, as Milan will need to sign a replacement, although they have Financial Fair Play troubles looming too. Alvaro Morata was initially believed to be part of the discussions, but the Spaniard looks set for a return to his homeland instead.
Additionally, a £32 million price tag has Chelsea hesitant as well, although they have now inched closer to signing Higuain. The player’s brother and agent Nicolas arrived in London on Thursday to hold talks with the Premier League heavyweights, and negotiations could gather steam.
For now, Gonzalo Higuain’s future remains up in the air, with the player also coming in for criticism from AC Milan. But, it remains to be seen if Chelsea are able to land the 31-year-old this month, or if he ends up staying put at San Siro instead.
