Gonzalo Higuain
Gonzalo HiguainReuters
Barcelona have made their first move to sign former Real Madrid star Gonzalo Higuain with a stunning €55m opening offer, according to reports in Italy.
Spanish newspaper Marca recently reported the striker was on the verge of moving to the Camp Nou after agreeing personal terms to join the Catalan giants.
The Neapolitan club denied it straight away however, stating via their Twitter account: "The journalistic indiscretions according to which @G_Higuain could be transferred to @FCBarcelona lack any foundation."
However, Higuain fuelled those rumours, claiming it would be "a great pleasure" to play in the same team as Lionel Messi.
Sport Mediaset Italy claimed on Wednesday that Napoli want to keep the Argentinian in their ranks and after paying Real Madrid €40m to secure his services just last summer they are not open to negotiations.
Now La Gazzetta dello Sport claims the Serie A giants have already received a stunning €55m opening offer from Barca. However, Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis will remain firm in talks with the Spanish giants and plans to seek a €70m deal for the striker.
Barcelona are looking for a striker having given up on Manchester City's Sergio Aguero - who insistedhe has no intention of leaving the Etihad Stadium this summer - and the former Real Madrid striker Higuain is viewed as one of their main objectives.
Higuain has been recommended by Lionel Messi who revealed he was looking forward to being reunited with his Argentinian teammate at the Camp Nou, telling reporters: "I'd love for Higuain to come to Barcelona, we could use him. But today, I'm only thinking about the World Cup."
The Catalans have also earmarked Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder Marco Reus as a target, as his €35m release clause is much lower than the Aguero's.
However, they suffered a setback in their pursuit after the German club's general manager Michael Zorc ruled out the possibility of Reus leaving the club during the summer transfer window.
"First and foremost, Marco himself said that he definitely wanted to play for Dortmund next season. And, secondly, there would be no point in making an offer because we do not want him to leave."