Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is ready to push on with efforts to sign Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema with Spanish source AS claiming the north London side are set to offer €65m (£45.7m) for the Bernabeu star.
The 27-year-old striker has proven a success since his 2009 move to the Spanish capital, netting 133 goals in his six seasons with the La Liga club, but reports suggesting Rafa Benitez is ready to use Gareth Bale in a central striking role have led to speculation over Benzema’s future at Real Madrid (via the Daily Mail).
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Arsenal transfer news.
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The move referenced by AS would see Arsenal break their club record fee, currently standing at the £42.5m spent to bring Mesut Ozil in from Real Madrid (via The Guardian).
Arsene Wenger’s current first choice central-striking option comes in the form of Olivier Giroud and the former Montpellier man, though a fan favourite, is by no means a prolific spearhead for the Gunners attack.
The 28-year-old has scored 54 goals in 134 appearances for Arsenal over the course of his three seasons at the Emirates Stadium and is very much a confidence player.
Last term Giroud netted ten goals in ten matches over a period between February and April but then went eight games without a goal prior to scoring in the FA Cup final win over Aston Villa.
Karim Benzema has scored 20+ goals in each of his past five seasons at Real Madrid and also provides more than just a goal-scoring touch.
Last season Karim Benzema provided ten assists in La Liga action alone, only five players managed more, and the unselfish former Lyong man is arguably a more rounded performer than one-dimensional national team colleague Giroud.