Arsenal Transfer News: Karim Benzema Hope Grows, Latest Raheem Sterling Rumours

Arsenal's chances of plucking Karim Benzema from Real Madrid may have grown with speculation Los Blancos are targeting Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero.  

The Gunners are also said to have received an approach from Liverpool with regards to a swap deal for Raheem Sterling. Sources have told ESPN FC that the Merseyside club would "sanction" Sterling's switch to the Emirates Stadium if Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs moved in the opposite direction.

Although the summer transfer window is yet to officially open, Arsenal fans will no doubt be growing frustrated with ever-developing links.

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Juanma Trueba of AS suggests Real Madrid President Florentino Perez is pursuing a personal "dream" when trying to land Aguero, a transfer which would likely "mean goodbye to Benzema."

Spanish publication Sport (h/t Ben Jefferson of the Daily Express) indicates incoming Madrid boss Rafa Benitez wants a greater selection of defensive players, another tactical switch that would see Benzema pushed through the door. Jefferson's article links Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool to the Frenchman's signature.

B/R UK's Jonathan Johnson recently discussed whether Arsenal or United are more likely to land Benzema:

As ever, the likely transfer carousel at Madrid may have major implications for other sides. Arsenal managed to snap up Mesut Ozil when the Spanish giants signed Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013, taking advantage of the side's overcramming of quality. 

Trueba suggests Benzema "tolerates competition badly" at the Bernabeu, a venue where multiple players are often competing for a single spot.

Benzema scored 21 goals and provided 11 assists during 38 appearances in La Liga and the Champions League during the 2014-15 season, per WhoScored.com. However, he could be sacrificed for Aguero, who finished as the Premier League's top scorer on 26 strikes (he also scored six in Europe).

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed he won't spend "stratospheric" cash on single additions, as reported by John Cross of the Daily Mirror. Benzema's current market value is adjudged to be in the region of £44 million by Transfermarkt.co.uk, a little more than the £42.5 million Wenger spent on Ozil.

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Sterling is said to be valued at £45 million, according to The Sun (h/t the Daily Telegraph). ESPN FC's report makes no mention of Arsenal needing to offer cash if Walcott and Gibbs are chucked into the deal, though.

Walcott enjoyed a late-season emergence for Arsenal, scoring four goals in two starts, including one in Saturday's FA Cup final win over Aston Villa. He appears far more deadly in a striker's role, rather than being pushed out to the wing, and he has the potential to dislodge Olivier Giroud from the side if he continues to play exciting cut-and-thrust football.

The former Southampton man has one year left on his contract, per Transfermarkt. Gibbs' current deal runs until 2018, but he has also struggled to maintain a first-team place in recent times. Both players have the potential to become key stars under Wenger, even if they could be given greater opportunities to excel at Liverpool, where squad options aren't so robust.

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Wenger will be looking to improve on this year's third-place finish in the Premier League as a matter of priority. Two successive FA Cup triumphs has eased pressure on the Frenchman, but it's been years since Arsenal offered a genuine title challenge.

Benzema and Sterling both represent quality options for the club. Wenger is a handful of smart signings away from possessing a mouthwatering squad and will no doubt keep his options open during the summer.