The title-race implications of Gonzalo Higuain's transfer to Juventus

Gonzalo Higuain joining Juventus for an Italian record price of $98.9 million effectively ends the Serie A title chase in July. Also, it signals that Paul Pogba‘s rumored sale is nearly complete.

What does Higuain’s arrival mean?

The Argentine striker moving from Naples to Turin and becoming the third most expensive transfer in the history of the sport means that Juventus may as well be penciled in for a sixth straight Serie A title. The Italian league is effectively over before it begins, as Juve expected to comfortably claim the Scudetto before signing the 28-year-old talisman, who set a single-season Serie A record with 36 goals during the 2015-16 campaign.

In addition, Juventus weakened its nearest opposition, Napoli, by taking away the coastal city’s best player.

Juve’s current streak of five straight league titles needs to be properly acknowledged. For starters, no team in the top flight of English football has ever won five times in a row, and that goes back to the 19th century, long before the modern Premier League structure was put in place.

In Spain, only the 1960s’ Real Madrid with Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas won five La Liga crowns in a row, but even that team did not win six straight. In Germany, no team has ever won five in a row, despite Bayern Munich perpetually pillaging the league for the best talent and often serving as the skeleton and flesh of the German national team.

The last team in Italy to win five Serie A titles in a row was Internazionale from 2005 to 2010, but the first in that series can best be described as a bit crooked. Inter Milan only received that first title after a court case involving match fixing docked Juventus and AC Milan points and handed Inter the Serie A title ex post facto. Incidentally, Juventus dropped down to Serie B as part of the punishment.

Beyond Inter’s controversial string, Serie A last had a five-time league champion in the late 1940s with Torino. Also, Juventus won five consecutive league titles from 1930 to 1935. However, no team in any of the top four European leagues has ever won six league titles in a row.

So, Higuain’s arrival at Juventus means the 2016-17 campaign will be an historic season. In 2015-16, Juventus finished top of the table and nine points clear of Higuain’s Napoli side after the zebras trampled the opposition at the business of the season. Juve won 26 of its final 28 Serie A fixtures, and the only defeat over that stretch arrived after the Bianconeri had already clinched the title.

What does Higuain’s arrival signal?

The hefty price paid for Higuain signals something entirely different. Paying nearly $100 million suggests that Juventus has a sizable sum of money on its way into the club. In other words, Higuain’s arrival signals the end of Pogba’s time in Turin.

The Frenchman expects to shatter the transfer record upon his exit, so his quality need not be debated. Pogba has been a fan favorite during his time with the black and whites, and his technical ability, skill and flair will be sorely missed in Serie A and at the Juventus Stadium. However, if Manchester United are willing to make Pogba the most expensive transfer in history, Juventus can cry itself to sleep in a pillow stuffed with cash on a bed of money. Likewise, Napoli isn’t exactly hurting after Higuain’s pricey move.

Juventus, though, is more than capable of running away with the league without Pogba. Juventus without Pogba and Higuain would still be considered the favorite entering the season. With either or both, it’s probably time to simply etch Juventus’ name on the trophy.

Should Pogba depart as expected, 22-year-old Mario Lemina appears primed to break into Juventus’ starting lineup. Lemina put in an impressive performance against Tottenham Hotspur in Tuesday’s friendly in Melbourne, Australia. The midfielder played in a similar role to Pogba’s in the 2-1 victory, and the Gabonese international, who played for France’s Under-20 and Under-21 teams, could be a like-for-like replacement if Pogba does indeed join the Red Devils. Beyond the promise of the youth in the squad, Juventus is stacked with depth and experience up front, in the middle and in the back.

In truth, Juventus’ notable additions of Miralem Pjanic, Dani Alves, Medhi Benatia and Marko Pjaca, along with Higuain, signal that the Italian champions are intent on doing more than simply winning another Scudetto. The Old Lady has her sights set on conquering Europe.

As much as Higuain’s signing secures the 2016-17 Scudetto and signals Pogba’s exit, it also serves to push Juventus further up the ladder of Champions League favorites. With or without Pogba, Juventus starts the 2016-17 season in the elite company of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich as the early favorites to arrive at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff for the 2017 Champions League final.

Shahan Ahmed is a columnist for Yahoo! Sports. You can reach him on Twitter @ShahanLA and follow his soccer commentary on @PerfectPass