Arsenal are getting closer to securing the services of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema. According to recent reports in the English media, the French forward is set to join the Gunners and could be off to play his football at the Emirates Stadium in the summer. The France international has been heavily touted to make a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in recent months.
Some sources in Spain are claiming that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is eager to offload Benzema in order to make a swoop for Tottenham superstar Harry Kane. The 30-year-old striker has struggled to score goals on a consistent basis under Zinedine Zidane this term, with the striker finding the back of the net just six times across all competitions. It is being reported that Benzema will part ways with Los Blancos at the end of the season in favour of a switch to Arsenal. The France star has reportedly begun house hunting in London ahead of making a switch to the north of the English capital in the summer.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is eager to secure the signature of Benzema and pair him up with their new signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the Emirates Stadium. The Gabon international sealed a move to north London on the January transfer deadline day in a club-record £56m deal. Aubameyang will be reunited with his former Borussia Dortmund colleague Henrikh Mkhitaryan at the club.
The Gunners are currently in 6th place in the Premier League table, five points behind fourth-placed Liverpool who occupies the final Champions League spot. Arsene Wenger’s side could definitely use someone of the calibre of Benzema ahead of their next campaign as they try to bridge the gap between themselves and the Premier League’s ‘Top 4’ in the coming years.
The Frenchman will undoubtedly bolster Arsenal’s attacking options but with Danny Welbeck, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang already in their ranks, the Gunners could use the money to strengthen other areas of their squad. Benzema has featured in 23 matches for the Galacticos, scoring six goals and providing four assists in all competitions.
With Alexis Sanchez departing the club for a move to Manchester United in January, the potential arrival of the French forward in the summer along with the winter acquisitions of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang might soften the blow of losing the Chilean superstar. It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of the La Liga striker and whether he ends up in north London next summer.
