Arsenal Hope To Trump Man Utd With €49m Bid As Wenger Makes Striker His No.1 Target

As the opening of the summer transfer window approaches, managers are working hard identifying targets and lining-up potential deals so we’ll bring you all the news and gossip. Today, Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is linked with a move to England….

Arsenal are ready to push ahead with their attempts to sign Manchester United target Karim Benzema after Arsene Wenger made the Real Madrid striker his top priority this summer, according to reports.

Benzema has just come off the back of another productive season at Madrid that saw him bag 22 goals in 46 appearances but despite those efforts, he still came under fire from some sections of the Bernabeu faithful at times last campaign.

The French international is once again being linked with a move to the Premier League with reports last week suggesting Manchester United are lining-up a big-money bid to try and lure the striker to Old Trafford.

Louis van Gaal is looking to build a squad capable of challenging for top honours next season and he’s in the market for a top class forward after rejecting the chance to sign Radamel Falcao on a permanent basis, and Benzema would certainly fit the bill.

However, it looks like United will face some stiff competition as the Metro are citing reports coming out of Spain that claim Arsenal are now ready to press ahead with their attempts to sign the 27-year-old striker this summer.

The newspaper quotes Spanish journalist Kike Marin as saying that Arsene Wenger has made Benzema his No.1 target and the Gunners are supposedly ready to test Madrid’s resolve with a €49m (£35.5m) offer over the coming weeks.

As with any transfer rumour, it’s difficult to know how much truth there is behind these reports but Wenger is believed to be a long-term admirer of Benzema’s so it comes as no surprise that he’s being linked with the striker again this summer.

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However, it remains to be seen whether Madrid will be willing to do business for the player. Rafa Benitez has just been confirmed as Carlo Ancelotti’s replacement so I’m sure the Italian will have a big say on the strikers future.

There have been suggestions that Benitez is ready to give Gareth Bale a more central role in his team, which could see Benzema out in the cold, so perhaps Madrid may be willing to cash-in on the striker this summer.

If so, it looks like Arsenal and United are ready to offer him a new challenge and I’d love to see the former Lyon man playing in the Premier League next season, so hopefully one of them can get a deal agreed.