Arsenal Transfer News: Lucas Moura Bid Readied, Latest Karim Benzema Rumours

Arsenal are reportedly preparing a £21.5 million bid for Paris Saint-Germain winger Lucas Moura.

Recent reports have suggested the Brazilian is set to depart the Parc des Princes with PSG willing to listen to offers, per French outlet Buzzsport (via the Telegraph).

According to France's Foot-Sur 7 (h/t Luke Gardener in the Daily Star), Arsenal are "ready to table a £21.5 million bid" as they look to add depth to their attacking line and get a jump on other interested parties Liverpool and Manchester United.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Moura, 23, was signed by PSG from Sao Paulo in 2012 for €45 million, but he has failed to make himself indispensable at the club.

In the 2015-16 campaign, he has started 12 of PSG's 17 Ligue 1 matches, netting three goals and providing one assist, per WhoScored.com.

He is a frustratingly unpredictable player but can be fantastic at times, per French football writer Andrew Gibney:

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger may feel that he can work with Moura to make him more consistent, and he could certainly be a useful addition at the Emirates given their consistent injury problems.

Danny Welbeck, Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have all been injury concerns of late, and play in positions that could be covered by Moura.

While he predominantly plays on the flanks he can also work through the middle, and his addition at Arsenal would ease some of the pressure on the Gunners' thin squad.

Equally, given his youth, the Brazil international's best days are likely still ahead of him and Wenger could turn him into a valuable asset for the club.

Given that Arsenal's squad depth is not currently conducive to maintaining a season-long title challenge, the addition of Moura for around £20 million would be a smart move.

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Elsewhere, long-term Arsenal target Karim Benzema could reportedly be nearing the end of his career at Real Madrid.

According to Sky Sports' Guillem Balague, Los Blancos are eager to sign Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski, a move that could be facilitated by Benzema's departure from the Bernabeu: 

"

Those in the player's close circle view enormous potential in a possible Bale-Lewandowski partnership and feel the time is right for him to make the move to the Spanish capital.

He never thought he would have the chance to join Madrid while Cristiano Ronaldo was at the peak of his form but in Poland, the belief is that the Portugal forward and Karim Benzema's time at the club is coming to an end.

"

Per the Daily Star (h/t Telegraph) Arsenal have been consistently linked with the Frenchman over the last few transfer windows, and he would be a great addition to the Gunners squad as competition and cover for Olivier Giroud, currently the club's only genuine No. 9.

But, given the number of previous false dawns concerning a Benzema move to the Emirates, Gunners fans should not get their hopes up just yet.