Spanish club Atletico Madrid are all geared up to launch a tempting bid for Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain. Foottheball sources confirm that Atletico Madrid are keen on signing the player this summer but are not ready to trigger his €94 buy-ou-cluse.
Foottheball sources also confirm that the bid could be in the region of €60 million which could eventually climb up to €65 million.
Atletico Madrid are also ready for a swap deal in addition to the fee. The club is willing to offer Óliver Torres or Luciano Vietto to Napoli in exchange for Gonzalo Higuain this summer.
Earlier this week the striker have confirmed that he is not willing to sign a new contract at Napoli, and is keen on making a switch this summer.
28-year-old Argentine forward Higuain has been under the radar of top European clubs which includes Liverpool, Arsenal and Paris Saint Germain. However critics believe that Atletico Madrid’s recent success in both the domestic and continental domain will help Simeone to convince the striker.
Higuain had an incredible last season at Napoli with 36 league goals to his name. Napoli had a great start to their league campaign last season but they failed to hold on to the momentum in the later stages, ending up second to Juventus, who clinched their 5th consecutive Serie A title.
The 2015/16 Serie A season brought in a lot of success for the former Real Madrid star as he broke Gunnar Nordhal’s record for most goals scored in a single season.
Gunnar Nordhal had scored 35 goals in a season when he featured for AC Milan but Higuain broke the 66-year-old record with a hat-trick against Frosinone on the final day of the league campaign, taking his tally to 36 goals in a single season.
Nicolas Higuain, the brother and agent of the Argentine striker made it clear in public that they are in favour of making a move this summer.
“The President (Aurelio De Laurentiis) has the right to claim the money [€94m] from the buy-out-clause, and we have the right not to renew, said Nicolas Higuain
“In 2013 we decided to leave Real Madrid because we wanted a change of scenery. We arrived at Napoli with great enthusiasm, there was an ambitious project with Rafa Benitez at the helm.”
“Gonzalo will not renew, we’re confident of that given the situation of the project. We have a contract, and we’ll respect it, but we won’t change our opinion.
“I haven’t spoken with any club, we’re not considering the idea of a sale, there haven’t been any concrete offers. There are signatures on contracts, so the club has the right to ask for the clause, just as we have the right to not renew.”
However his brother and agent Nicolas Higuain is not sure of the club that 28-year-old Argentine forward wants to move to but he hinted that the former Real Madrid striker is fond of Diego Simeone.
“Who could he play for? Currently four or five teams. The great teams in Spain and England, one club in France (PSG) and one in Germany (Bayern Munich). Only they can afford him.”
“Would he like to play for Simeone? Cholo is an elite Coach, in the last three seasons he’s been to two Champions League finals with a squad inferior to the greats and the only team they’ve failed to beat is Real Madrid, in specific circumstances.”