Arsenal Transfer News: Edinson Cavani, Karim Benzema Aren't Realistic Targets

If you are bored over the weekend and want some laughs, you could go to a comedy show. Maybe see some local improv acts or a stand-up comedian. You could look for a good comedy flick on Netflix or catch up with that TV comedy you're behind on this season at Hulu. 

Or you could just read some of the latest transfer rumours making the rounds. Because with the January transfer window just a month away, the silly season is now in full swing. 

Not surprisingly, Arsenal are in the middle of the madness. The Gunners, always a popular subject when it comes to transfer rumours, are being linked to several top forwards this season, Edinson Cavani and Karim Benzema chief amongst them.

Charles Perrin of the Express has more on the Cavani buzz:

"

Edinson Cavani is set to disappoint Manchester United fans, as he admits he is mulling over a £50m move to Arsenal instead. The Uruguayan striker, was on United's radar in the summer and remains unhappy at Paris Saint-Germain.

Though United were reportedly entertaining the prospect of a swap deal involving Cavani and Radamel Falcao but that could be dead in the water. Arsenal's transfer priorities doesn't seem to revolve around a striker, but Wenger could be willing to spend £50m to bring Cavani to the Emirates.

"

Cavani has been solid for PSG this year, scoring six goals in 14 Ligue 1 appearances and five goals in five Champions League matches. He was a key figure for the club when Zlatan Ibrahimovic was battling back from an injury, though with the Swedish star returned to health, Cavani is no longer the center of the club's attack.

Perhaps he is unhappy at PSG. Perhaps the Parisians would even be willing to sell. But would Arsenal bite at that price tag?

Julian Finney/Getty Images

We'll get to that. After all, the Gunners might also be in the running for Benzema. Jamie Anderson of the Express has more on that front:

"

Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal may be capable of pulling off a significant transfer coup after learning the availability of Karim Benzema.

Spanish sources are reporting that Carlo Ancelotti is prepared to listen to offers for his coveted French international. The suggestion is that the former Chelsea boss isn't desperate to sell the 26-year-old, but should an attractive proposition present itself—he will pull the trigger.

Ancelotti is keen to clean house, with a number of high profile stars expected to leave the Bernabeu when the transfer window reopens.

"

Los Blancos have enormous debt so cutting ties with a few prominent players—Sami Khedira, for example—wouldn't be surprising. It would be surprising if Benzama was allowed to leave, however. 

For starters, he's been brilliant for Real Madrid this season, with eight goals and five assists in 11 La Liga matches, and five goals and an assist in five Champions League appearances. He's always paired quite well with Cristiano Ronaldo, as Benzema is unselfish and is just as capable of setting the table for a goal as he is of scoring one himself.

Ronaldo would likely be irate if Benzema was allowed to leave. It's incredibly hard to imagine Los Blancos would let him go.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

But even if they did, why would Arsenal be in the market for a striker? The team's attacking force hasn't been the issue this season.

Olivier Giroud is back from injury and Danny Welbeck was solid in his stead. Alexis Sanchez has been nothing short of brilliant. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has made serious strides. Theo Walcott should get regular time soon. Players like Lukas Podolski and Joel Campbell rarely can even crack the squad.

The attack isn't the issue for the Gunners. Far from it.

Sure, the Gunners are going to buy in January. Arsene Wenger has said as much, per David Hytner of the Guardian:

"

I would like to remind you that to buy football players is not to go into a supermarket and just say: ‘I want to buy a right-back or a centre-back.' It’s to find the right quality. If you go out tomorrow, you will see that everybody looks for the same positions everywhere. It’s not as simple as it looks.

In January, it is even more difficult because players are even less available than in June or July. But we will try to be creative and have one or two good ideas.

"

Notice that in his hypothetical, he mentioned two defensive positions and not a striker. That's because the Gunners desperately need defensive depth. Desperately. 

They could also use a true holding midfielder to relieve Mikel Arteta of those duties, a player who covers for Aaron Ramsey's forays forward and the attacking tendencies of Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil (when he returns).

Arteta isn't a poor player, but the holding role simply doesn't fit his strengths. He's adapted for the club, sure, but the Gunners need a physical presence in the middle of the pitch to contend with the Chelseas and Manchester Citys of the world.

So no, Cavani or Benzema likely aren't heading to north London. The Gunners have bigger needs. It's fun to imagine either elite striker joining the Gunners, sure, but if we're being honest with ourselves, the notion of either player appearing at the Emirates come January is more laughable than realistic.