Real Madrid have told potential suitors for striker Gonzalo Higuain to start their bidding at £37 million, according to The Times. The news will come as a body blow to Arsenal, who have been linked with a move for the 25-year-old all summer and were hoping to secure a deal closer to the £20 million mark. Higuain publicly stated his desire to leave the Bernabeu at the end of last season having struggled for first team appearances under former manager Jose Mourinho, who rotated the Argentinian with Karim Benzema as Cristiano Ronaldo's striker partner. The former River Plate man was at times left out of Real's big games and is now seeking a move elsewhere in order to find a new challenge. But Madrid officials have recently embarked on a charm offensive in an attempt to persuade Higuain to stay in the Spanish capital, and have not ruled out the possibility of holding him to his contract. New Real manager Carlo Ancelotti, who has succeeded from Mourinho following his move back to Chelsea, is understood to be one of the driving forces behing Higuain's massive price tag. That could persuade Arsenal to pursue alternative options, with Manchester United's Wayne Rooney also on their radar.