Madrid’s Benzema looks set for the Premier League after years of chasing the striker.
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema looks finally set for a £30m transfer to Arsenal after years of pursuit from the Premier League giants, reports the Telegraph.
The France international’s current contract at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu is set to expire in 2015 and as the 26-year-old enters the last year of the deal, Los Blancos may decide to cash in whilst they still have the opportunity.
Arsene Wenger has been in pursuit of Benzema for some time, including last summer when Madrid rejected the move from the Gunners.
The 64-year-old is keen to add another forward to his squad having admitted that they have relied too much upon Olivier Giroud this season.
They tried and failed to sign Luis Suarez from Liverpool last summer, as well and have also seen other scouted targets – Diego Costa and Josep Drmic – decide to join other clubs.
Madrid’s own pursuit of Suarez could play a major factor in whether the north Londoners actually manage to land Benzema.
The Spanish giants are linked with a £70m move for the Uruguay international, but would need the money from the sale of the Frenchman in order to adhere to UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rule.
Wenger will wait until after the Champions League final to try and sign the Madrid attacker, with Bayern Munich’s Mario Mandzukic another option if the bid fails.
Benzema has been with Los Merengues since 2009 after making the switch from Olympique Lyon and has since scored 112 goals in 233 appearances.
Read more Arsenal transfer rumours.
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