Real Madrid Transfer News: Karim Benzema Chooses Arsenal, Paul Pogba Targeted

Venezuelan football presenter Jeinny Lizarazo has provided updates on two key Real Madrid transfer stories, with mixed news emerging on Arsenal’s apparent pursuit of Karim Benzema and Los Blancos’ chase for Juventus sensation Paul Pogba.

Here’s the update she posted, per her official Twitter feed: "As of right now..both RM and Benzema have decided Arsenal..RM waits for Arsenal to make moves for the $..RM are now hard after Pogba"

Real have sold off important players in the previous two summers in Angel Di Maria and Mesut Ozil to fund marquee money moves for James Rodriguez and Gareth Bale, respectively, so perhaps it's plausible that a similar offset of funds may be needed to facilitate a big move in this window.

Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images

Taking Benzema first, the Frenchman is a forward who knits Los Blancos’ moves together magnificently at the point of the attack, offering a wall for the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez to play off.

As noted by Squawka Football, although his influence is often understated, the Frenchman is consistent when it comes to chipping in with decisive contributions, with only Lionel Messi (100) and Cristiano Ronaldo (104) being directly involved in more goals than Benzema's 51 in the last two seasons.

It’s what makes any sale almost unfathomable for Los Blancos. When Benzema hasn’t played in pre-season, Jese Rodriguez has typically occupied the role at the point of the attack and while he is a good prospect, he doesn’t possess the rounded attributes needed to lead the line for this Real Madrid team.

New Real Madrid manager Rafael Benitez has already reaffirmed that he doesn’t expect the Frenchman to be going anywhere, per Mike Keegan of the Daily Mail

In addition, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has denied on numerous occasions that there has been any contact with the player. After the Gunners’ 1-0 win over Chelsea in the Community Shield, he insisted that “nothing is happening” with the Real Madrid striker, per the official Arsenal website.

PAUL CROCK/Getty Images

Nor would Madrid let anything happen, you would imagine. Los Blancos are on the cusp of such an important season in which they’ll be under massive pressure to win silverware. After failing to score in four of their pre-season games already, selling their thoroughbred No. 9 would be the worst possible preparation for 2015-16.

Drafting in Pogba may sate some supporters, though. The Juventus man is rated as one of the very best youngsters in the game and was superb for the Bianconeri as they secured a league and cup double last season.

Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

But Bleacher Report’s Gianni Verschueren doesn’t think the Italian giants are in a position where they can afford to cash in on the player, stating "Juventus lost Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo, and Sami Khedira will be out for 2 months. They just can't afford to sell Pogba right now."

Although Juventus are a massive side in their own right, there’s a general consensus that eventually the very top teams, like Real Madrid, will make a move for the player. But for the time being, with Juve’s midfield options diminished and no pressure to sell, to see Pogba make the switch to Madrid would represent a major surprise.

Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Johnson ran the rule over some of the business Los Blancos are more likely to conduct in the final embers of the summer window:

If these transfers do come to fruition, Lizarazo, who is a self-confessed Madridista, will quickly become the go-to source on all things associated with Los Blancos. But these suggestions seem far-fetched.

Benzema is the perfect forward to lead the line for Real and falls in line with the more pragmatic emphasis Benitez is likely to put on his team. Pogba may be on his way to Real one day, but a summer acquisition seems like a fantasy proposition.