Liverpool and Manchester United target Gonzalo Higuain open to summer transfer says Napoli striker's agent

Gonzalo Higuain's agent has confirmed the striker could leave Napoli if the Italian club's president Aurelio De Laurentiis sanctioned his star player's sale. The Argentine international created history when he scored 36 Serie A goals in 35 matches last season and is contracted with the club until 2018.

Nicolas Higuain, the striker's brother, who is also his representative confirmed that the former Real Madrid star will not sign a new deal. Jose Mourinho is looking to reunite with Gonzalo at Manchester United and Napoli legend Jose Alberti confirmed receiving offers from United and Paris Saint-Germain.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is keen on signing the 29-year-old in the summer transfer window and is the German coach's top striker target, according to The Sun. However, with Gonzalo rejecting a new contract and willing to leave Napoli in the summer will be a massive boost for United and the Reds in their chase for the striker.

The Italian club finished second in the league table last season, finishing nine points behind champions Juventus. Nicolas admitted that Napoli lack the ambition to challenge the Turin club for the Scudetto has convinced him to find his client a new club this summer.

"There was talk of a project worthy of the Champions League, a convincing plan to fight for the Scudetto," Nicolas is quoted as saying by ESPN.

"This year we finished the first half of the season in first place, but the club made zero effort because we didn't see them make major signings to fight for the Scudetto. The president has the right to ask for his release clause, and we have the right not to agree with the project and not renew the contract, that's only right.

"Maybe the club is looking to bring in young prospects, but we believe they should make the effort to bring in players who can compete with Juventus, who have won the Scudetto for five years in a row. It seems to me that the direction the club is taking, while respectable, is not the right one to battle with Juve. You can't do that and you can't make the Champions League with youngsters," he said.

"If an offer comes in? It all depends on De Laurentiis, he'd have to accept it. We're convinced not to renew the contract, then we'll see if the president accepts an offer lower than the clause. Gonzalo, in sporting terms, has very different ideas to the club at the moment. They still want to buy young players with potential, but we want to win," the player's agent explained.