JUVENTUS are willing to take a £16.2million hit to get Gonzalo Higuain off their books, according to reports.
The ex-Chelsea striker has a contract in Turin until 2021 but does not fit into the plans of new Juve manager Andrea Pirlo.
Juventus look set to pay off Higuain in order to get him off their booksCredit: EPA
However, according to Tuttosport, there is no interest in Higuain from other clubs and he will only agree to leave if he is paid the £6.75million in wages he is due for the remaining year of his deal.
Negotiating a mutual termination of the Argentine’s contract would allow the ex-Napoli frontman to become a free agent and decide his own future.
Despite signing Higuain for £75.3million from Napoli in 2016, Juve are willing to make a £16.2million loss – based on howmuch that final year would cost with that transfer fee – on the 32-year-old to start afresh.
Juventus have been trying to shift Higuain and his wages since the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018.
El Pipita spent the 2018-19 season on loan at AC Milan and then Chelsea under his former Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri, but neither club were convinced to make the transfer permanent.
Despite Sarri’s arrival in Turin last summer, the Bianconeri had again hoped to sell Higuain to balance their books but the striker rejected all offers in order to fight for his place.
Manager Andrea Pirlo only pockets £1.6million-per-year after taking charge of the club
He eventually found some game time under Sarri, scoring 11 goals in 44 appearances in all competitions last season, but new Juve coach Pirlo seems to have made a decision on Higuain’s future already.
Reports yesterday suggested both the Argentine and German midfielder Sami Khedira were set to be axed by Pirlo as he attempts to rejuvenate his ageing squad.
Higuain’s former club River Plate was suggested as a possible destination for the striker while he spent lockdown in Buenos Aires.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
