Arsenal Transfer News: Karim Benzema Rumours Encouraged by Real Madrid

Real Madrid have encouraged interest in Karim Benzema from Arsenal this summer, but still possess absolutely no intention of selling their star striker, according to reports.

James Olley of the London Evening Standard wrote Los Blancos have had no issue with the Gunners lusting after the striker, who has been linked with a £45 million move to the Emirates Stadium. But it’s seemingly an underhand tactic to make the Spanish giants look strong in the face of interest from illustrious clubs elsewhere, per Olley:

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Arsene Wenger is keen on bringing the 27-year-old to Emirates Stadium and was initially encouraged when Rafael Benitez took charge at the Bernabeu due to his interest in playing Cristiano Ronaldo as a central striker.

That would have left Benzema fighting for a place in the team and it appeared at that stage Arsenal could have pulled off a major transfer coup by offering the France international an escape route to the Premier League.

However, Standard Sport understands that Real president Florentino Perez is a huge admirer of Benzema and has made it clear that he wants the striker to stay at the club having only last summer signed a contract extension running to 2019.

In a similar way to stories linking Sergio Ramos to Manchester United, Real have allowed the Benzema to Arsenal rumours to circulate in the belief that the player has no desire to leave and so keeping him at the club would constitute a show of strength to their rivals.

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Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

According to Olley, no official bid has been made by the Gunners for the striker as of yet because they’ve had no inclination that Benzema is keen on making the switch to north London. But it’s claimed in his piece that manager Arsene Wenger is interested and when he refers to “exceptional” targets in the media, it’s in relation to the striker.

Bleacher Report’s Spanish football expert Guillem Balague suggested that a move remains unlikely at this point:

Could Benzema potentially push for a transfer to Arsenal? It’d certainly be an intriguing opportunity for the striker and having won a clutch of trophies during his time in the Spanish capital, the chance to spearhead the charge for titles elsewhere is a prospect that could galvanise him as he enters the peak years of his career.

FRANCK FIFE/Getty Images

According to broadcaster and Arsenal fanatic Piers Morgan, getting the 27-year-old on board will be what the Gunners need to win the title:

But prising him away from the Spanish capital will prove very difficult. Granted, while players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez are all players who bewitch the Santiago Bernabeu with their skill set, Benzema is not quite so easy on the eye. But he’s a functional part of Real’s scintillating attacking setup.

Boris Streubel/Getty Images

Here’s how the Frenchman compared last season in league matches to Arsenal’s current starting centre-forward Olivier Giroud:

	Benzema	Giroud
Apps (Sub)	29	21 (6)
Goals	15	14
Assists	10	3
Shots per game	2.4	2.6
Key passes per game	1.6	1.1
Dribbles per game	1.1	0.3

Signing a name like Benzema would give everyone a lift at the Emirates. Few new players stir excitement quite like a thoroughbred goalscorer and while Giroud is a very capable centre-forward, his compatriot would bring a major dose of quality to a crucial area of the pitch.

The Gunners look set to be frustrated, though. It’s not often Real Madrid reluctantly let go of a superstar, so with Benzema seemingly settled in Madrid, the manager happy to have him around and the president a “huge admirer,” per Olley’s piece, expect him to remain a Madrid player for a while yet.