Arsenal
Arsenal On Alert As Benzema Eyes New Challenge But Llorente In January Looks Unlikely
Arsenal are ready to step up their pursuit of Karim Benzema but Arsene Wenger may have to wait until the summer to try and sign Fernando Llorente from Juve.
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 are to step up their interest in Karim Benzema and Fernando Llorente.
Arsenal are ready to step up their pursuit of Karim Benzema with the striker ready to take on a new challenge but the Gunners may have to wait until the summer to sign Fernando Llorente, according to the Daily Mail.
Despite Sunday’s defeat to Manchester United, the Gunners have enjoyed an excellent start to the season and currently sit top of both the Premier League and their Champions League group.
However, Arsene Wenger has been hugely reliant on Olivier Giroud up front and the Mail claim the Arsenal boss will step up his interest in Benzema this winter as he looks to bring in another top quality striker to compete with the Frenchman.
Benzema has been installed as Real Madrid’s No.1 striker following the sale of Gonzalo Higuain to Napoli but has endured a difficult season so far and has been jeered by large sections of his own support leading to speculation he could be ready to seek a new challenge elsewhere.
The 25-year-old’s contract expires in just 18 months and the newspaper suggests that Madrid are willing to sell for £27.5m when the transfer window re-opens in January as long as Carlo Ancelotti can bring in a replacement, and the players representatives are said to be already seeking potential buyers with the Premier League said to be his preferred destination.
The report claims that Wenger has identified a January loan move for Llorente as a back-up option in case he can’t do a deal for Benzema, but Juventus are believed to be determined to wait until the summer before cashing in on the player they picked up for nothing from Athletic Bilbao last summer.
Llorente has taken his time adapting to life in Serie A but is starting to find his best form again and the Italians are reluctant to sell mid-season meaning Arsenal may have to hope that Madrid can buy a new frontman so they can land Benzema this winter.
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