Arsenal Plan £19m Bid for Real Madrid Striker as Kroenke wants Trophies – Report

Arsenal are set to make a £19m bid for Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain and are making strides to make the Argentine their first signing in the summer, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Arsene Wenger has made a world class striker their top priority in the summer and have earmarked Higuain as the man to lead the line alongside Olivier Giroud. The Argentine international has made 28 appearances in the just concluded season, scoring 17 goals and assisting eight times. The striker has been confirmed to be leaving the Spanish side, having spent seven seasons at the club since his transfer from River Plate in 2006.

The Gunners reportedly have a £70m transfer kitty to spend in the summer and the manager has been backed by chief executive Ivan Gazidis who has revealed that discussions have started with Wenger over what is expected to be a transfer heavy summer for the North London club. Arsenal have achieved an incredible feat of qualifying for the Champions League for the 16th year in succession under Wenger but are now looking to convert their great run into trophies.

"It is important to reiterate that for everyone at the Club, qualification for the Champions League is not our ultimate ambition. Our majority owner Mr Kroenke has made it clear that while it's an achievement to make the Champions League our ultimate objective is to win the major trophies," Gazidis told www.arsenal.com.

"We all share that clear ambition and will be driving the Club forward to achieve it. Arsène and I have already been planning what we need to do to strengthen so we are better placed next season," he added.

The Gunners have also expressed an interest in Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic but the report states that the player is unwilling to move out of Italy and will prefer a move to Juventus who are also reported to be interested. Arsenal are close to sealing a deal for Auxerre striker Yaya Sanogo as confirmed by the manager. The 20-year-old French striker has been plagued with injuries early in his career and has managed only seven appearances thus far, but has scored eight goals in the process.