Arsene Wenger
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is still attempting to sign a leading striker to bolster his squad. Reuters

Arsenal are poised to increase their bid for Luis Suarez as their hopes of securing Gonzalo Higuain continue to diminish, according to reports. Despite Higuain’s father claiming last week that the player had been given permission to discuss terms with the Gunners, Real Madrid have insisted that no bid has even been made.

An offer has been lodged by Arsenal, though, for Luis Suarez. After an initial £30 million proposal was expectedly knocked back by Liverpool, they will know return with an improved bid as they grow increasingly confident that the Uruguayan forward can be lured to the Emirates, reports the London Evening Standard.

It had been thought that a deal could be struck for Higuain for £23 million, however Madrid have dug their heels in, which might have been expected after president Florentino Perez several weeks ago laughed off suggestions that he would be sold for €30 million (£25.9m). Although Higuain has said that he wants a move this summer, the Standard believes that new Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti will hold talks with the Argentina international as the club consider trying to persuade him to stay. It is a different story coming out of Spain, though. Marca reports that Madrid is not standing in Higuain’s way of a move, but, rather, it is Arsenal which is now turning their attentions elsewhere -- toward Suarez.

Madrid will not want to allow Higuain to leave without a replacement lined up and, with Edinson Cavani seemingly on the verge of joining Paris Saint-Germain and Suarez believed to be considered too expensive, that is proving a difficult proposition. Still, it could clear the way for Arsenal to go for Suarez. Both Liverpool and the player are keen for a transfer abroad, but that may not be an option and the 26-year-old has spoken positively of Arsenal’s interest.

A report in the Daily Mail on Thursday claims that Arsenal are also prepared to spend big to bring their former midfielder Cesc Fabregas back to the Emirates. The Gunners do have a clause giving them first option on the player should Barcelona decide to sell and Fabregas was strongly linked with both Arsenal and Manchester United earlier in the summer. However, Fabregas has repeatedly insisted that he is not interested in leaving the Camp Nou any time soon. With Thiago Alcantara appearing on the verge of securing a move away from Barcelona, it also seems unlikely that the Spanish champions will be eager to lose Fabregas.

A likelier proposition is for Arsenal to focus their interest on signing more of a physical, defensively minded midfielder. The London Evening Standard believes that the prospect of signing Everton’s Marouane Fellaini is waning, while the Gunners have also failed in a bid for Bayer Leverkusen’s Lars Bender.

Sky Sports now reports their understanding that Arsenal are contemplating an approach for 20-year-old Sevilla midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia. The former Lens man enjoyed an impressive first season in La Liga and is also attracting attention for his performances in helping France reach the final of the Under-20 World Cup. There could well be competition for his signature, with Real Madrid also keen, according to Marca.

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