Arsenal Striker Target Handed £22m Price Tag - Report

Arsenal will reportedly have to pay £22m to land Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain.

The 25-year-old has been heavily linked with a summer move to the Emirates in recent weeks. Spanish Web site Sport.es earlier claimed both clubs had agreed an £18m [€22m] deal, with the Argentina international signing a pre-contract with the Gunners.

However, according to the Mirror, no such agreement has been reached as yet and Madrid are now pushing for a transfer fee around £22m. The report also claims Los Blancos have informed top European clubs Higuain is available for a transfer, if they are ready to meet the price tag.

Arsene Wenger is keen on bolstering the Gunners' attacking options in the summer, with Fiorentina forward Stevan Jovetic a top target. The north London club are believed to be close to a deal but the Express believes the forward is also interested in the chance to play for Serie A champions Juventus.

Regardless of what happens in the race to sign Jovetic, it is understood Wenger wants to add two strikers to his ranks ahead of next season, with Manchester City's Edin Dzeko and QPR's Loïc Remy also linked to the club.

Higuain has delivered relatively consistently for Madrid ever since he joined them as a 19-year-old talent, from native side River Plate. The Argentine had signed for €13m back in 2007. The striker has 105 goals and 38 assists to his name from 189 La Liga appearances during his seven seasons in the Spanish capital.

However, Higuain has struggled for regular game time since Karim Benzema's big-money arrival from Lyon three years ago. Nevertheless, he has still managed 14 goals and five assists from 26 league matches this season.

Wenger has made enquiries regarding the player's situation and is willing to pay £18m for Madrid's second-choice hitman but the Meringues are now holding out for £22m.

Higuain currently earns £120,000 per week at the Bernabeu and it will be interesting to see if Arsenal break their wage structure to accommodate the Argentina star or the player is willing to take a pay cut. Any deal, though, is believed to be conditional on the Gunners qualifying for the Champions League next season.

Arsenal are fourth and have a single point lead over Tottenham in fifth, with only one game left in the season. Spurs must beat Sunderland, at White Hart Lane and hope Newcastle United beat Arsenal at St James' Park, if they want to beat their rivals to fourth place.