Arsenal Offered Bargain £20m Striker Deal As Madrid Raise Funds For Suarez Swoop

Although the summer transfer window is officially closed that doesn’t stop clubs working hard behind the scenes to prepare for future signings, so we’ll keep you up-to-date with all the latest gossip. Today, Arsenal could get Karim Benzema on the cheap as Real Madrid look to raise funds for a swoop on Luis Suarez.

Arsenal could sign Karim Benzema for a bargain £20m in January as Real Madrid try to raise funds for a fresh swoop on Liverpool for striker Luis Suarez, according to the Independent.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was on the look out for a new front man in the summer and was heavily linked with a move for Benzema but Real’s £40m valuation appeared to scupper any potential deal.

However, the 25-year-old has endured a difficult start to the season, scoring just two goals in eight games so far, and his poor form has seen him jeered by his own fans on several occasions and it seems boss Carlo Ancelotti is ready to cash in.

The Independent claim that Madrid have now informed Arsenal they can sign the France international for just £20m in January – just half what they were quoted in the summer – with the La Liga giants looking to raise money to fund a move for Liverpool’s Luis Suarez.

Whether Wenger will choose to renew his interest in Benzema remains to be seen – especially given the excellent early-season form of Olivier Giroud – but you’d have to think the Frenchman would be tempted if he could sign one of his long-term targets for just £20m.

If the north Londoners do strike a deal it will spell bad news for Liverpool as it seems Madrid will then use the money raised to partially fund a move for Reds hitman Suarez.

The Uruguayan tried to force a move away from Anfield in the summer and the newspaper suggests the controversial forward remains intent on quitting the club and would jump at the chance of making the move to the Bernabeu in January, despite his excellent form since returning from his 10-match ban.

Liverpool stood firm in the summer by refusing to sell and will surely do all they can to hang on to the 26-year-old this winter but the fact the player has openly admitted his desire to play champions League football paired with the fact he will still be eligible to play in the competition during the second half of the season makes him a very desirable target for the likes of Madrid.

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Would Arsenal fans like to see Benzema arrive in January? Do Liverpool fans think we’ll have another Suarez saga? Share your views below.