Arsenal target and Napoli star Gonzalo Higuain closing in on £79m Juventus switch

Arsenal have suffered a blow in their ongoing pursuit of signing Gonzalo Higuain after the striker is edging closer towards completing a move to Juventus. He was linked with a move to the Gunners, while the Turin club were also in the race for his signature.

According to the Mirror, the Argentine international has completed his Juventus medical in Madrid. The 28-year-old will sign a four-year deal with Juventus, which will see him earn €8m-a-year (£6.7m, $8.8m).

Arsene Wenger has already admitted that he is looking to add a striker to the squad this summer. The north London club had identified Higuain as the player to bolster their attack for the next season.

Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Napoli were open to the idea of allowing the former Real Madrid striker to move out of Italy, who has a €94m (£79m, $103.1m) release clause in his contract. This boosted Arsenal's chances of bringing him to the Emirates.

However, with Higuain completing his medical prior to his imminent switch to Juventus, it has dashed the Gunners' hope of landing the South American striker. Juventus are set to raise the funds for Higuain's capture by allowing Paul Pogba to leave the club in the summer transfer window.

Pogba has been linked with a move to Manchester United and Real Madrid, according to the Spanish publication El Confidencial. The Red Devils are leading the race for his signature and it is believed that Pogba will be allowed to return to Old Trafford for a world-record fee of €120m (£100m, $131.7m)

The Guardian claims, with Juventus' imminent capture of Higuain, it will only boost United chances of helping Jose Mourinho land his summer midfield target. Pogba is Mourinho's priority target and the former Chelsea manager admitted that signing a midfielder will see United complete their crucial work in the transfer market.