Emirates Stadium side set to finally land long term target.
Arsenal are set to complete the signing of Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema according to respected Italian journalist Emanuele Giulianelli.
Today's meeting ok between Arsenal and Real. Deal almost closed, Benzema will arrive to London on Sunday.
— Emanuele Giulianelli (@EmaGiulianelli) August 7, 2015
Benzema will have shirt number 9 at Arsenal.
— Emanuele Giulianelli (@EmaGiulianelli) August 7, 2015
Arsene Wenger is ready to fork out 65m (£46m) to land the 27-year-old French international (via AS), a fee that would break the North London side’s transfer record outlay, currently standing at the £42.5m Arsenal paid Real Madrid for Mesut Ozil two years ago.
Benzema has bagged 133 goals in six seasons in the Spanish capital, including netting 20+ in each of the past five campaigns, and would offer Arsene Wenger a prolific marksman to spearhead his Arsenal attack.
READ MORE:
Arsenal transfer news.
Biggest liabilities in the Premier League, with Tottenham’s Kyle Walker after own goal, plus Man Utd & Arsenal defenders
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits star may be forever CROCKED
The powerful forward is a more rounded attacking weapon than Olivier Giroud, the former Montpellier man being at times a little too one-dimensional, with Benzema finishing last season as one of La Liga’s leading assist-makers.
Arsenal have made just one high-profile summer signing, that being the capture of Chelsea keeper Petr Cech, and club director Lord Harris has stated that as much as £200m is available to Wenger and as such the French boss has the option of making a big money signing before the transfer window slams shut.