Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain has insisted he would love to remain at the Bernabeu for many years to come.

Speculation was rife in the summer that the Argentina international was set to leave Los Merengues after they splashed out on the likes of Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, with Manchester City, Chelsea and Inter Milan said to be among the interested parties.

However, the 22-year-old is currently the club's leading scorer with 12 La Liga goals to his name this season, and reports suggest Real are preparing to offer him a new deal which would tie him to the club until 2016.

I am very happy and I would love to stay here many years, but that is something that my agent, who is my father, is dealing with.
Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain

When asked if he wanted to stay at the Madrid heavyweights for the rest of his career, Higuain replied: "It would be a very big dream to stay here for a long time.

"I am very happy and I would love to stay here many years, but that is something that my agent, who is my father, is dealing with, and even though I am keeping up to date with it, I am focused on the matches. You earn a new deal playing on the pitch and scoring goals."

Real are said to be keen to offer the youngster a new deal which would see him receive a salary hike, putting him on a par with the likes of Benzema.