Arsenal, Spurs and Man City to duel for Real ace

Real Madrid grabbed the attention of a triumvirate of Premier League clubs when they announced that Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain would be departing the Bernabeu this summer.

Higuain’s sale is expected to cater for the arrival of either Edinson Cavani or Falcao and, at a reduced price, there’s certain to be plenty scrapping for his signature.

Three Premier League outfits are believed to be at the forefront, however, with Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham all interested in securing the 25-year-old’s services.

It’s believed that Spurs tried and failed in a bid to sign the player in the last off-season, while the Gunners and City have made no secret of their intentions to improve the attacking prowess of their sides.

Higuain would represent a monumental coup for any of these three clubs, though it is the Citizens’ Argentinean connections, not to mention their far superior spending power, which gives them a huge advantage in this instance.

Since signing for Real midway through the 2006-07 season, Higuain has scored 119 goals in 260 appearances for Los Merengues where, at least domestically, he has been forced to endure more of a bit-part role since the turn of the year.

In contrast to Jose Mourinho’s regular approach to squad rotation, the lone striker role in Real’s team has been passed between Higuain and Karim Benzema, with the former starting the majority of Champions League ties, while the Frenchman has been utilised in La Liga action.

Despite Higuain starting the games of seemingly higher priority, it is him who will be leaving and not his French counterpart and there’s every chance the Premier League could be his next destination.

One of his potential future employers, Man City, are heavily fancied to be adding the FA Cup to their trophy cabinet in next week’s final. They’re 2/5 to beat Wigan in the Wembley showpiece.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date