Arsenal Transfer News: Karim Benzema Hopes Grow, Victor Wanyama Deal Urged

Arsenal are preparing to revive their interest in Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema with a new bid, while ex-Gunner Robert Pires has told his former club to sign Southampton's Victor Wanyama.

Benzema was frequently linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium last summer, but Spanish website Fichajes.com reported Arsenal are in pole position and ready to table a new offer (h/t Metro).

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It's reported this is due to the France international's off-field problems, including the role he's alleged to have played in the blackmailing of international team-mate Mathieu Valbuena.

Samuel Petrequin of the Associated Press cited Benzema's recent interview with TF1, where he opened up on the sex tape furore after being accused of being an intermediary between Valbuena and the blackmailers (via Daily Mail):

"Hopefully it will end well, we will all be OK...and we will all return to the France team to win that Euro. I'm not playing for the cameras, I'm not playing a game. I'm here to be sincere."

It's been a difficult period off the pitch for Benzema, but he's showing no signs of strain for Real Madrid and scored a brace in Saturday's 4-1 win over Getafe to bring his La Liga tally up to eight goals in nine games this season.

Meanwhile, the Gunners have been struggling to keep their first-team squad fully fit, and Olivier Giroud has had to come back into the starting XI while the likes of Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck have been sidelined.

Benzema's recent two-goal display is likely to have only convinced Real Madrid further as to why he's an almost indispensable part of their team, but Metro's report maintains the club are keen to offload him.

Gunners chief Arsene Wenger may be only too happy to snap up his countryman, but Real counterpart Rafa Benitez has reaffirmed just how essential Benzema is in the wake of Saturday's win, per Spanish daily Sport:

"Benzema's two goals reinforce that he's a very important player for us—and that he makes those around him play better. He really wanted to play this game, do well and score goals. Doing well on the pitch will help him to deal with other [off the pitch] matters."

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It's been two-and-a-half years since Arsenal shelled out a gargantuan £42.5 million to land Mesut Ozil, and the Gunners would have to pay out big once again if they're to purchase Benzema.

That being said, the Bernabeu doesn't appear keen to get rid of their leading man anytime soon, according to Real Madrid TV presenter Phil Kitromilides:

Closer to home, Arsenal have been urged to sign Saints star Wanyama by Robert Pires, who wants to see his old side beat rivals Tottenham Hotspur to the midfielder's signature.

Speaking to the media in Wanyama's native Kenya, Pires highlighted Wanyama's physical assets as something Wenger could do with amid the injury crisis plaguing Arsenal's ranks of late, per Metro's George Bellshaw:

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I know Wanyama. He is a very good ambassador of Kenyan football and has done well in Southampton but I hope he signs for Arsenal in the future. He has the speed, skill and physique. However, I think he needs to score more goals because then he will be world class material.

"

Wanyama is entering the final 18 months of his contract at St. Mary's Stadium despite growing to become a valued member at Southampton, which could come to play a role in any negotiations that may develop.

Per Oluwashina Okeleji of BBC Sport, the midfielder recently spoke of his collapsed move to White Hart Lane, showing he's perhaps open to a move toward England's capital:

Francis Coquelin's recent injury has left Arsenal short of engine-room options, joining the likes of Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta and Tomas Rosicky on the sidelines along with others.

Wenger is seeing the effects of failing to properly beef up his resources over the summer months, but Pires would see his old side make up for that shortcoming with a future move for Wanyama.