Maurizio Sarri is a huge fan of the Argentine, whom he worked with for a single season at Napoli in which Higuain scored 36 league goals – only less than Barcelona front-man Luis Suarez’s 40-goal haul in Europe.
And the new Chelsea boss is keen on a reunion having also brought £57million midfielder Jorginho with him from Napoli despite the Italian having looked set for a Manchester City switch.
Following the Blues’ first summer signing, the Daily Mail say that Chelsea have now officially opened talks with Juve for Higuain – who would cost around £53m.
But it is thought that no serious progress will be made until Higuain’s agent – his brother Nicolas – returns from his holidays to assist talks.
Until then, Chelsea will reportedly look to trim their options up top with Alvaro Morata, Olivier Giroud and Michy Batshuayi all linked with exits across Europe.
Chelsea are said to be keen to offload one of the trio, with £70m striker Morata touted with a move to AC Milan after he disappointed in his first season in west London.
Giroud, despite only joining in January, has also been linked with a move away while Batshuayi is apparently of interest to Napoli although Borussia Dortmund aren’t back in for the Belgian after he scored seven goals in 10 games on loan in Germany last term.
Juve are seemingly open to selling Higuain with the 30-year-old arguably in the last window of his career in which he will command a big fee.
And with Cristiano Ronaldo having arrived in an £88million move from Real Madrid, Higuain’s role as main man for the Old Lady will undoubtedly be taken away from him by his former Los Blancos team-mate.
The Mail suggest a deal may also help Juve to comply with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules with Ronaldo thought to be on around £500,000-a-week wages.
Higuain has scored 55 goals in 105 appearances in all competitions in two years in Turin but went without a goal at the World Cup as Argentina crashed out in the last-16.
Chelsea have also been strongly linked with moves for Juve pair Daniele Rugani and Miralem Panic, although it is claimed that the Serie A champions are reluctant to sell the centre-back.
They could however green light an exit for the Bosnian midfielder, who has also been linked with Manchester City and Barcelona could reportedly cost as much as £72m.