Napoli‘s head of communications, Nicola Lombardo, has played down speculation over the future of star forward Gonzalo Higuain after strong links to Juventus and Arsenal.

“Gonzalo never said he wanted to leave,” Lombardo said at a question-and-answer session with supporters at the club’s training base, per Chris Myson of Goal. “Juve have never asked for him and [president] Aurelio De Laurentiis does not want to sell him. … But he will be here in Dimaro to start pre-season on July 25.”

As noted by Myson, Higuain has been the subject of a lot of speculation, with the Gunners said to be keen to bring him to the Emirates Stadium.

It was suggested by the Partenopei’s official radio station, Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli, on Saturday that Arsenal were poised to land the striker for €50 million (£42 million) plus Olivier Giroud, per ITASportPress (h/t Sport Witness).

Higuain is considered among the best strikers in world football following a brilliant 2015-16 campaign with Napoli. He netted a Serie A-record 36 goals for the Partenopei last season. Here they are:

Per Myson, Juventus have been strongly linked with a move for the Argentina international, whose goals helped Napoli challenge the Bianconeri for the Serie A title for significant spells of the previous campaign. That deal would further cement Juve’s status as the major force in Italian football if it were to come off.

The team would also benefit massively from the 28-year-old too. Manager Arsene Wenger has long been without an elite striker, and Gunners supporters would be concerned if Arsenal begin the campaign with Giroud as their first choice in the position.

Higuain would excite the Emirates Stadium crowd despite his reputation as a player who falters in big games. Bleacher Report’s Gianni Verschueren doesn’t see that particular stigma as too much of a problem:

Player-plus-cash transfers are rare in modern-day football. As such, it’d be a massive surprise if Arsenal were to strike that kind of aforementioned transfer. Napoli seem keen to keep hold of their prized asset, but if they were to move him on, they’d surely prefer to see the player head abroad.

    

Arsenal Linked with Marcelo Brozovic

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Lewis Winter of the Daily Star Sunday), Arsenal and Liverpool are both interested in signing Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic.

The Croatia international recently joined the Serie A side on a permanent deal following on from an 18-month loan spell. However, it’s suggested in the piece the Nerazzurri want to make space for the signing of Axel Witsel and are ready to move Brozovic on for a fee of £21 million.

Brozovic has impressed during his time in Italy, adding a box-to-box presence to this Inter side. Here is a look at the kind of attributes he possesses:

It’s easy to see Wenger admiring a player like Brozovic. The 23-year-old is multifaceted in the way he plays the game, and he carries out whichever role he performs with a high level of technical proficiency. Brozovic can operate as a withdrawn midfielder, push forward and even cut in from positions on the flanks.

With players such as Geoffrey Kondogbia, Gary Medel and Felipe Melo, Inter have plenty of defensive-minded midfielders in their ranks already. Brozovic is one of a few Nerazzurri players who can provide a spark going forward; if they are willing to lose that trait, it could be to Arsenal’s benefit as they look to restructure their own midfield.

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