Emirates Stadium side hope to capture top quality duo.
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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is looking to secure the signings of Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema and Schalke midfielder Julian Draxler and will hope to have deals in place before the pair begin their World Cup campaigns with France and Germany respectively.
CaughtOffside understands that Wenger is keen to avoid any last minute panic buys this summer and has been handed a sizable transfer fund war-chest to invest in additions that can help the north London side mount a genuine Premier League title challenge next season.
Wenger will look to bring in long term target Karim Benzema and is ready to offer as much as £40m for the Bernabeu ace though any move for the 26 year old would hinge on Carlo Ancelotti successfully acquiring a replacement for the former Lyon man.
The Spanish giants have identified Premier League hot-shots Luis Suarez and Sergio Aguero as their top targets and if the La Liga side bring in either forward then Arsenal’s chances of landing Benzema will increase significantly.
Benzema is having an excellent campaign, netting 24 goals in all competitions, but the fact that Ancelotti and club president Florentino Perez are openly courting a striker signing may well lead to the powerful marksman demanding an exit in preference to a supporting role in the Real Madrid squad.
Arsenal are also ready to stump up £40m to bring in attacking midfielder Julian Draxler who Wenger narrowly missed out on during the January transfer window.
The 20 year old talent has been in fine form this term and is likely to make an impact in Brazil where he may play a prominent role in Joachim Low’s national team set-up, all the more reason for Wenger to look to agree a deal to sign the youngster before other prospective suitors block his path or drive up his asking price.
Draxler is said to be open to a move to the Emirates Stadium and will join fellow countrymen Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski and Mesut Ozil in Wenger’s squad.
Wenger has already made initial contact with the two clubs and will register formal offers later this month.
Though still some months shy of his 21st birthday Draxler has already amassed almost 150 appearances for Schalke and has ten German caps to his name and is rightly considered one of the hottest prospects in European football.
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