Real Madrid Transfer News: Latest Kevin De Bruyne and Karim Benzema Rumours

The race for Wolfsburg sensation Kevin De Bruyne looks to be over following reports Manchester City expect to complete his signing this week, but the chances of Real Madrid hanging onto Karim Benzema have improved.

According to Paul Hetherington of the Daily Star, City are so confident of sealing a move for De Bruyne, the club has even scheduled his medical in the hopes he'll be ready to face former club Chelsea next Sunday.

Markus Schreiber/Associated Press

James Robson of the Manchester Evening News reported earlier this summer that City were looking to contend with the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona for Europe's top talents, a group in which De Bruyne certainly now belongs.

The Guardian's Ed Aarons recently quoted De Bruyne's agent, Patrick De Koster, who used Chelsea's reported interest in Everton defender John Stones to illustrate his client's valuation:

Hetherington's report insists the Citizens will fork out £45 million in order to lure the playmaker to sign a six-year contract at the Etihad Stadium, ending any interest Real may have held in the Belgian.

Kristof Terreur of Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws provided further quotes from De Koster, who hinted a transfer fee being agreed could be the only remaining obstacle:

Wolfsburg team-mate Josuha Guilavoguia recently spoke to the official Bundesliga website and hailed De Bruyne's influence on the side after scoring 10 goals and making 20 assists in the league last season:

"I'm lucky to be able to train with Kevin every day; what he can do is simply amazing. He's world class, there's no doubt about it. He's got a knack of always being in the right place and is fantastic at shifting the play. He's our magician. Without Kevin, it would be different because he gives us our edge."

City's pursuit of De Bruyne will also be pleasing news for Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez, who should now be able to rely upon Isco remaining under his command for the season to come.

Fichajes.net (h/t Adam Skinner of the Daily Express) reported the Spain international as being a target for the Citizens earlier this summer, but a move for De Bruyne would see that hunt come to an end.

Arsene Wenger Shuts Down Benzema Talk

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

Real Madrid won't be selling Benzema to Arsenal this summer if Gunners chief Arsene Wenger has anything to do with it, following the tactician's verdict that his side have no need of the forward.

Ex-Arsenal striker Thierry Henry recently tipped Benzema to make Arsenal title contenders, but Wenger dismissed the speculation linking his side with the striker, per the Daily Star:

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I heard Thierry Henry say if we buy Benzema we would win the title by a margin. I respect his views but football has evolved and the game has changed since he played here. The out-and-out strikers are no longer there. Tactics have changed.

You do need somebody to score goals and I think Olivier Giroud will not be far from 20 this season. Theo Walcott will be up there too. We have to develop our game and depend less on one player. I truly believe we can win the league. We look like we can score plenty of goals.

"

Working with a stringent budget compared to those of their Premier League peers is nothing new to Arsenal fans, who would need to pay a club-record fee in order to land Benzema.

Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail has reported the Gunners are in the clear to make a £45 million move for the France international, but Wenger's comments suggests that move isn't likely to materialise.

It's good news as far as Los Blancos boss Benitez will be concerned, with the manager hoping to retain Benzema as the spearhead in his attack for the season to come.

Broadcaster Piers Morgan has claimed to have inside knowledge of the negotiations, however, insisting a deal is still on the table following "advanced" talks:

Real have no experienced, natural strikers sitting behind Benzema and would most likely need to invest in another forward if they were to let him leave their ranks in the remaining weeks of the transfer window.

GianlucaDiMarzio.com translator David Amoyal feels it would be more logical for Real to sell their star next year and bring Alvaro Morata back to the club from Juventus, having sold him to the Turin outfit last summer:

Cristiano Ronaldo has shown the ability to play in a central role, but doing so would relieve him of much of his influence in other areas, which may be considered too great a sacrifice.

Wenger's comments suggest no deal will be done for Benzema this summer, but Los Merengues aren't likely to feel safe in their stance until the transfer deadline passes with the striker still among their ranks.