Arsenal Hold ‘Secret Striker Talks’ As Wenger Tries To Hijack Liverpool’s €50m Deal

The summer transfer window may be closed but managers are already thinking ahead to future transfer windows so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Arsenal are ready to hijack Liverpool’s move for Karim Benzema.

Arsenal are trying to hijack Liverpool’s €50m move for Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema after holding secret talks with the player, according to reports.

The Gunners have long been linked with a move for the former Lyon striker and speculation in the summer claimed that Arsene Wenger was preparing a bid in the region of £30m for the French hitman.

A move failed to materialise as Benzema opted to stay at Madrid and sign a new five-year deal at the Bernabeu, which led to Arsenal signing Danny Welbeck from Manchester United on deadline day.

However, Benzema has continued to frustrate some sections of the Madrid fanbase with his inconsistent displays this campaign which has led to rumours he could be on the move and reports last week suggested that Liverpool had agreed a shock €50m (£38.8m) deal to sign the striker in January.

But the Merseysiders look like they will now face stiff competition for the 26-year-old’s signature as the Daily Star are claiming that Arsene Wenger has held ‘secret talks’ with the striker in an attempt to persuade him to move to the Emirates instead.

Obviously Benzema would be a sensational coup if Arsenal or Liverpool could pull it off but I have my doubts over whether a deal will be done mid-season as I don’t see Madrid agreeing to sell unless they find a suitable replacement, which won’t be easy in January.

I would also question whether either Arsenal or Liverpool really need to spend that kind of money on another striker. As previously mentioned, the Gunners signed Danny Welbeck in the summer and Olivier Giroud will be back to fitness in the New Year, so I’d suggest that Wenger should be prioritising a new defensive midfielder and/or centre-back above signing another front man this winter.

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Liverpool signed both Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert in the summer and although neither have found their top form at Anfield so far, I don’t think Rodgers would panic into spending €50m on another striker just yet.

So although Benzema would be a great signing for any club, I personally don’t think we’ll see him come to the Premier League in January, despite what the Daily Star are reporting.