Real Madrid have offered Arsenal their striker Karim Benzema for the relatively low price of just £20 million, according to the Independent.
Whether Gunners boss Arsene Wenger still wants to sign the 26 year-old Benzema is unknown after the Frenchman’s decidedly mixed start to the season, and he will certainly be curious as to why Real Madrid are dropping their price tag by such a vast amount, having valued him at £40m in the summer transfer window.
Benzema has just ended a remarkable 1224 minute spell without a goal for France – the equivalent of nearly 14 full matches – when he netted against Australia in Les Bleus’ international friendly victory on Friday, and he has not scored for Real Madrid in five matches.
This has prompted calls from the club’s fans for manager Carlo Ancelotti to give promising young Spanish forward Alvaro Morata more opportunities in La Liga – a competition Benzema hasn’t scored in since August.
Wenger has long admired Benzema, and dismissed the question of whether he could play alongside his own star striker Olivier Giroud.
“As for whether Olivier Giroud and Karim Benzema can play together… they can, yes. But up until now, their partnership hasn’t worked so they must find another way,” said the Arsenal manager prior to the Australia match.
“It’s always hard. But you must have guys who are giving good assists as well as guys who can score. Right now, those who fail to score are always being singled out. But a question must be answered: do we have enough guys giving good assists? I think France are lacking something in this regard.”
Franck Ribery set up a goal each for Giroud and Benzema against the Socceroos, with Samir Nasri assisting another strike for the Arsenal man as if to illustrate Wenger’s point.
However, Benzema and Giroud did not play together for a single minute. Giroud started the match, and was taken off at half time to be replaced by the Real Madrid man.
Any Arsenal transfer for Benzema would mean it was down to Wenger to solve the France team’s issues.
Real Madrid are believed to still be keen on Liverpool forward Luis Suarez, who the Independent claim has again expressed a desire to leave Anfield at the nearest opportunity.