Napoli reject Atletico Madrid bid for Gonzalo Higuain but Arsenal yet to table offer

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis says Atletico Madrid are the only club to have made an offer for Arsenal and Juventus target Gonzalo Higuain, insisting anyone interested in the striker must meet his release clause in full.

Higuain enjoyed the most prolific season of his career to date last term and has now emerged as a target for Serie A champions Juventus. The club are insistent, however, the Argentina international will not be allowed to leave for a penny less than his considerable €94m (£80m) release clause, suggesting Juventus must sell Paul Pogba to Manchester United to have any hope of financing such a huge move.

Arsenal also remain linked with the 28-year-old, having missed out on him when he initially left Real Madrid to join Napoli in 2013. So far, however, Atletico Madrid are the only club to have made a bid for the coveted striker.

Napoli's outspoken president De Laurentiis told a press conference on Wednesday: "If Higuain joins Juventus, he betrays himself. He went under Napoli's 'curva' [stand where die-hard ultras traditionally sit] last season signing and celebrating with our fans, if he goes to Juventus, that is nonsense. Napoli and Juventus are like cats and dogs," he was quoted as saying by Calcio Mercato.

"Juventus would need to pay the player's release clause and reach an agreement with Higuain. The only club that have made an offer for Higuain is Atletico Madrid. They proposed €60m plus two players, but I said no. I am not going to reveal if the release clause has expired."

Higuain scored 36 goals in Serie A last season, breaking a 66-year-old league record.

Arsenal also remain linked with another Argentine striker in Inter Milan's Mauro Icardi as Arsene Wenger once again finds himself under pressure to bring in an established goalscorer this summer. Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy appeared to be their first choice, but the England international rejected a move to north London to sign a new deal with the Premier League champions in June.

Alvaro Morata has also been persistently linked with a move to the Emirates, but it would now appear Real Madrid want to hold onto the player, having activated a buyback clause to re-sign him from Juventus this summer.