Official offer made for Higuain, Giroud is open to a move - no excuses for Wenger not to complete transfer

Swap deals are a rarity in the transfer business of football, so when Gonzalo Higuain was linked with a move to Arsenal with Olivier Giroud going the other way to Napoli, the immediate feeling was, "yeah right." But, pause to think a little bit more and put the comments of Giroud's agent into that thinking process as well, and they you start to feel, "maybe it is not so far-fetched after all."

What is without doubt is the fact that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is in the transfer market for a striker. Ideally, he would have liked to have already sealed the deal by now, but with Jamie Vardy deciding to sign a new contract with Leicester City, the manager has been forced to look elsewhere.

Quality central strikers are a dying breed in the game of football at the moment, so to get one who would be an upgrade on what Arsenal already have was never going to be an easy task for Wenger.

Arguments can be made over if Vardy really is better than Olivier Giroud, but the fact that the England international brings pace into the attack played a big factor in Wenger taking a punt on a 29-year-old.

Higuain is not exactly known for his pace, but he isn't as slow as Giroud either, and with the Argentina international a grade or two above the France international, signing the former Real Madrid man is certainly something that Wenger will be pondering over.

The problem, as it always is, is the fee, with Napoli putting a sky high value on the 28-year-old. Arsenal have the money, but Wenger is never someone to pay silly fees, no matter how desperate the manager might be to sign a striker.

So, to add Giroud into the mix and bring that actual money paid down, as Gianluca Di Marzio has suggested, might be the best way to go for Arsenal.

Rai Sports journalist Ciro Venerato told Radio CRC that an offer has already been made by Arsenal.

"It comes to €50m (around £42m) plus Giroud, but I know that the English club is ready to arrive at €60m (£50.6m)," Venerato told Radio CRC.

"The Italians have already done a survey with the entourage of Giroud, but I'm not entirely convinced the attacker wants to move."

According to Giroud's agent, though, the Frenchman would be open to a transfer to Napoli, where he thinks his client can thrive.

"At the moment, Giroud is an Arsenal player," the player's agent Mickael Manuello told the same radio station. "If he was asked to leave, then we would evaluate our options.

"There is no fear in Olivier possibly going to Napoli, it is a magnificent city. In Campania, my client could lead a wonderful life, not to mention that the type of game orchestrated by Napoli coach [Maurizio] Sarri could enhance the quality of a centre-forward like him."

Venerato added that the Napoli dealmakers, including chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis, have been called to London to try and complete the transfer involving Higuain and Giroud. The only question remains if Napoli will be ready to take up that offer.

"Anyway Wenger has asked to get a meeting in London with Aurelio De Laurentiis," Venerato added. But we do not know if the president will agree to sit down at the table.

"The Gunners are ready to offer a contract of €8m (£6.8m) plus bonuses for four seasons."

The last time Arsenal pursued Higuain, Wenger lost out to Napoli after Real Madrid reportedly increased their asking price. This time, however, Wenger will not want to allow someone else to swoop in at the last minute and manufacture a deal, because if Arsenal manage to sign Higuain, it will immediately put them right up there with anyone else as one of the title contenders for the new Premier League season.