Arsenal could make £20 million move for top striker target in transfer window as selling club president hints at possibility.
Arsenal’s pursuit of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema gained momentum with news that the Spanish club’s president Florentino Perez has admitted the Frenchman could be sold if manager Carlo Ancelotti allows it.
“I have faith in all the players in our squad,” said Perez to Spanish television programme Punto Pelota, as reported by the London Evening Standard.
“Karim is a great player and we get offers for him all the time, every summer.
“All I can say is that the coach is the one who has the authority to do what he believes is right.”
Arsenal are believed to have set aside £20 million for the transfer of Benzema, who could then rotate with Olivier Giroud for the main striker role at Emirates Stadium.
Benzema’s form has dipped this season, with no goals scored in La Liga since the opening day of the season, but the France international did recently break a 1224 minute goal drought for his country with a strike against Australia on Friday evening, and followed it up with a fine strike against Finland.
Real Madrid looks set to boost their strikeforce with a move for AS Monaco forward Radamel Falcao – at least reading into Perez’s not-particularly-subtle hints.
“He (Falcao) won’t come in January but in June, who knows?” queried the Real Madrid president.
“Nothing is impossible and there is a lot of time between now and then.
“Falcao is a great player and I am aware that he wants to play for (Real) Madrid. I am aware of that, but it’s normal. They told me.”
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