Arsenal Transfer News: Karim Benzema Deal Doubted by Kaka, Latest Rumours

Real Madrid would be foolish to let Karim Benzema leave the club for Arsenal this summer, according to the Frenchman’s former team-mate Kaka, who has showered the Frenchman with praise.

“I think Benzema is one of the best forwards at this moment so I don’t think Real Madrid will give him away so easily,” the Orlando City star told talkSPORT (h/t Alex Harris of the Daily Star). “But Karim Benzema is a very good player and if he can have the opportunity to go to Arsenal then Arsenal will take a very, very good player.”

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As noted by Harris’ piece, the Gunners have been somewhat tediously linked with a move for the striker throughout the transfer window and their tepid display against West Ham United on the opening day has done little to quell fears that Arsenal need some fresh faces.

Barney Ronay of the Guardian thinks that given the minimal shift in personnel, it’s no surprise the team is susceptible to the same woes that blighted them last season:

There’s no denying that Benzema would add something refreshing and it’s no wonder a creative player like Kaka enjoyed playing alongside him so much.

Quick, strong, intelligent and industrious, the former Lyon man is one of the most rounded centre-forwards on the planet. There’d be little preventing him from being a major success at the Emirates either, with Benzema’s game well suited to the high tempo of the Premier League and Arsenal's intricate way of playing.

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But you have to look at things from Real Madrid’s perspective, too, as Kaka has done. There’s no way new manager Rafa Benitez would be willing to let his only senior No. 9 leave the club so close to the domestic season getting underway. As SPORT English note, the club have been a little profligate in front of goal in pre-season too:

If Arsenal are to spend big money on a new player this summer it’s likely to be a centre-forward and the prospect of an illustrious name would help shed the early sense of crisis that has already engulfed the Emirates.

Benzema is unlikely to be prised away from the Santiago Bernabeu, though. Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe had a closer look at why:

Arsenal do have a fair share of gravitas, but it’s very rare that Real Madrid sell a player reluctantly. Looking at the squad of Los Blancos players available to Benitez, there can be absolutely no denying he’ll be keen to keep Benzema on board.

The Gunners may be left to ponder alternative options should they continue to be frustrated in their pursuit of the Frenchman, but it’s important some perspective is added at this late stage of the window. Benzema would make a major difference to the team, but if, as expected, the deal doesn’t come off, Arsenal fans shouldn’t view this as a failure of their much-maligned transfer policy.