Agent Reveals Reasons For Hold Up In Higuain To Arsenal Deal

Carlo Ancelotti is hoping to keep Gonzalo Higuain after insisting that the Arsenal target is still needed at Real Madrid, claims agent Ernesto Bronzetti.

Higuain's has been strongly linked with a move to the Emirates in recent weeks but no offer has been made and this week it emerged that Napoli are also coveting the hitman as a possible replacement for Edinson Cavani.

Madrid had also been chasing Cavani, but agent Ernesto Bronzetti, who worked on the deal that saw Ancelotti appointed at the Bernebeu, claims that the side were not willing to meet the valuation that Paris Saint Germain eventually paid for the striker.

He told Tuttosport: "Cavani went to PSG because the Parisian club was the only one able to pay that fee. Real Madrid's attack consists of Ronaldo, Benzema and Higuain, very strong players, and Madrid could never spend €63m for Cavani."

Bronzetti also insisted that Ancelotti is hoping to keep Higuain as part of his attacking line-up, despite recent reports claiming the club were willing to let go of the Argentine to Arsenal but couldn't agree a final price.

"In regards to Higuain, Ancelotti does not want to discard him," he explained.

"Real Madrid, then, would not want to give up the player and I have to say that the Spanish club never takes players who have passed the age of thirty, so Ibrahimovic can not come."

The comments would explain why Arsenal appear to have gone cold on Higuainand have since begun pursuing Liverpool's Luis Suarez.

The Gunners have already had a bid turned down for the controversial striker, and today his agent invited the side to make a £40m bid and test Liverpool's resolve over keeping their top star.

Higuain has been with Madrid since 2007 but politics within the club have often left him out of favour for the big games, despite scoring 18 times last season when he was handed chances from Mourinho.

The 25 year old is believed to prefer a move to Arsenal, and his own father has spoken about his desire to play in the Premier League, but he is contracted to Madrid until 2016 and may well be handed more opportunities under Ancelotti.