Transfer news: Arsenal face fresh competition for signature of Gonzalo Higuain

Napoli reveal they are interested in signing the Real Madrid striker

Gonzalo Higuain (GETTY IMAGES)

Arsenal's hopes of signing Gonzalo Higuain have been dealt a fresh blow after Napoli revealed they are also interested in signing the Real Madrid striker.

Having sold Edinson Cavani to PSG for £54m yesterday, the Serie A side have become a powerful player in the transfer market with money to spend and a need for a new striker.

Outspoken president Aurelio De Laurentiis was taking part in a Twitter chat when a fan asked him if Napoli were negotiating deals for Higuain and Brazilian Leandro Damiao. He replied: "It's true that we're negotiating for Gonzalo Higuain and Leandro Damiao.

"The money we got for Cavani was €64.5m and added to the €60m we had set aside for the transfer budget there will be €124.5m to carefully invest on Napoli.

"There are various names on the table, we're assessing the situation.

Higuain had at one stage appeared on the verge of a move to the Emirates with his father and agent claiming the deal was at a "very advanced" stage.

However, since then, Real Madrid have claimed they are yet to even receive a bid from Arsenal and their stance on selling the striker has changed. New boss Carlo Ancelotti is understood to be keen to keep the Argentina international at the Bernabeu.