Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Karim Benzema and Grzegorz Krychowiak Rumours

Real Madrid star Karim Benzema and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger may have both ruled out a Gunners move for the France international, but that isn't stopping certain media outlets from persisting with rumours regarding his potential transfer.

Meanwhile, Sevilla star Grzegorz Krychowiak is nearing a move to Arsenal, according to Inside Spanish Football (h/t Daily Mirror's James Whaling). Wenger is reportedly willing to meet the player's release clause of £21 million.

Fichajes.net (h/t Metro's Jamie Sanderson) continued speculating on Tuesday, claiming the Gunners will make one final attempt to sign Benzema before the end of the summer transfer window. The club reportedly knows any deal will be difficult, but having spent months looking for a new striker, they're not ready to give up just yet.

The report comes one day after Benzema took to social media to quash any rumours he might be leaving the Spanish capital anytime soon:

Wenger told reporters there would be no transfer as well, via Goal's Sam Lee: “That story is dead. That story has always been created every week. When a player has a contract it’s the club that decides. Real Madrid have said many times they don’t want to sell him. It’s the same for us when we have a player under contract.”

Benzema's proposed move to Arsenal always looked unlikely, but over the course of the summer, speculation continued to mount, as the Gunners didn't make any major signings outside of Petr Cech.

Certain reporters, like ESPN Deportes' Jeinny Lizarazo, further fuelled the fire by almost guaranteeing the 27-year-old would end up at Arsenal, but through it all, the player kept quiet. Forced to watch his team-mates from the sidelines with an injury, his absence from the squad and persistent silence almost drove social media through the roof.

Until Monday, when Benzema returned to training before taking a shot at the people who continued to push the story. Football365's Nick Miller's reaction was almost comical:

TV personality Piers Morgan took a different approach:

For all intents and purposes, this deal is as dead as Wenger claims it to be. Both parties have made it very clear Benzema won't be moving to the Emirates anytime soon, and the Gunners can now turn their attention to other targets, with the end of the summer transfer window fast approaching.

There are no absolute certainties in life, but unless Benzema and Wenger have been playing mind-games with all of us from the very start, this transfer won't happen.

Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

Speaking of players Wenger has already ruled out as possible summer additions―via ESPN FC's Kevin Palmer― Inside Spanish Football (h/t Daily Mirror's James Whaling) believe the Gunners are nearing a deal for Krychowiak.

The Poland international is reportedly also being watched by Manchester United, but the Gunners have been linked with a move for Krychowiak for some time now and seem more likely to pull the trigger.

Krychowiak joined Sevilla just last year after several seasons in France, and he quickly established himself as one of the club's most valuable players. He was pivotal during the team's run to the Europa League title and started a total of 31 La Liga matches, via WhoScored.com.

The 25-year-old would provide the Gunners with some much-needed competition for Francis Coquelin, who is the default starter at the holding-midfield position, as there's little depth behind the Frenchman.

Coquelin emerged as a quality starter toward the end of last season but opens himself up to plenty of cards and possible suspensions due to his physical playing style, and added depth is needed. Krychowiak would provide said depth and would likely challenge Coquelin for the starting position the moment he sets foot inside the Emirates.

Coquelin's presence complicates the move, however. As reported by ESPN FC's John Brewin, Wenger believes in Coquelin, and he's unlikely to do anything to jeopardise his confidence:

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Wenger kept faith with Coquelin. A pride and trust in a player brought up within his system since he was 17 is admirable, a reflection of a continuing belief in youth products in an age in which importing mercenary talent is most other clubs' route to success. Wenger's great rival, Sir Alex Ferguson, had a comparable belief in those he had brought through, although there is a distinct difference.

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The Daily Telegraph's Jason Burt still believes Krychowiak is likely to make the switch, but the Pole won't be joining unless he believes he has a good chance of being the starter. And with Coquelin doing nothing to suggest he should be dropped anytime soon, things may not be so easy for Krychowiak, who is set to play Champions League football with Sevilla.

Leaving such a situation after just a single season for a new adventure in the Premier League is a risk, and one Krychowiak may not be willing to take at this particular time. Arsenal do have the financial ability to use a much-improved contract to convince the player, so this deal may not be decided until the last minute of the transfer window.

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