One of the summer's longest-running transfer sagas looks to be close to an end, with Gonzalo Higuain undergoing medical tests withJuventus ahead of a big-money move.
Arsenal were thought to be leading the chase for the Argentina forward after Juve director Beppe Marotta appeared to rule out a move for Higuain on financial grounds - but it emerged on Saturday that the striker had undergone a medical with the Serie A champions in Madrid on Friday.
Napoli striker undergoes Juventus medical - https://t.co/xKJSeGh7Ti pic.twitter.com/SFaghzJYKU
Bianconeri officials Marotta and Fabio Paratici were said to be at the meeting on Friday, as was Higuain's brother and agent Nicolas as they agreed afour-year deal for the 28-year-old to sign atthe Juventus Stadium, believed to be worth €7.5m per year plus image rights.
The deal would take his wage past that ofDaniele De Rossi at Roma to make last season's top scorer the highest paid player in Italy, as Juve prepare to trigger his€94.7m release clause over the weekend.
La Gazzetta dello Sporthave reported that Higuain has also signeda lease for a house in the Crocetta district of Turin, hinting that a move is now all-but certain to go through.
BREAKING: Sky in Italy: Gonzalo Higuain has medical with Juventus ahead of potential move from Napoli #SSNHQ pic.twitter.com/sOJt74dyL9
It's said thatHiguain cut short his post-Copa America holiday to go and viewproperties in the city with his brother; ending up landing on a propertyin Brosio Square. The report claims that the pair 'metthe owner's request for a deposit of several thousand euros, as well as two season tickets for the Juventus Stadium.'
With every move seemingly interconnected this summer, the Italian champions preparing to trigger Higuain's release clause is being seen as confirmation that they expect to come into a Paul Pogba-shaped windfall from Manchester United sooner rather than later, after manager Massimiliano Allegri confirmed that talks over Pogba's future were ongoing.
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