Chelsea and Manchester City have reportedly been put on red alert by suggestions that Karim Benzema is unsettled at Real Madrid and is ready to leave the Spanish giants next month.
Arsenal were repeatedly linked with the 28-year-old striker throughout the summer but Real president Florentino Perez is a big fan and rebuffed their interest, according to The Mirror.
But The Mirror adds that Benzema has been disappointed with a lack of support from his teammates over the Mathieu Valbuena sex-tape affair which has blighted his season to date.
As The Mirror reports, Benzema has been accused of attempting to blackmail his France international colleague over a sex tape featuring Valbuena and faces criminal charges.
It appears that the former Lyon forward is ready for a fresh start, and two of the Premier League’s biggest clubs are planning on offering him an escape route to England.
Both Chelsea and City have had striking problems this season. The Londoners’ three forwards – Diego Costa, Loic Remy and Radamel Falcao – have combined for only five league goals.
While the Citizens are short of depth up front, with Wilfried Bony the only senior deputy to Sergio Aguero, who has missed half of their matches this campaign with injury.
City could be in pole position to land Benzema. Chelsea, 15th in the Premier League after a disastrous start to the season, cannot guarantee him Champions League football next term.
And interim manager Guus Hiddink, reappointed on Saturday after the sacking of Jose Mourinho, is unlikely to be given the full power of Chelsea’s purse to work with in January.
How would Arsenal fans react if Benzema was to end up at one of their domestic rivals? They have had their hearts set on the Frenchman for so long and now appear to be out of the picture.
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