Karim Benzema to Arsenal: Wenger keen to sign £45m star this month - but Real Madrid hold firm

French connection: Wenger would love to sign Benzema if the price is right
Robert Prezioso/Getty Images
By James Olley19 August 2015

Real Madrid are unwilling to sell Karim Benzema to Arsenal and are using the Gunners interest to prove they retain the ability keep their best players.

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.

Arsenal would have to test that resolve with a bid in excess of £45million but, as yet, they have received no indication Benzema has had a change of heart over his immediate future.

No formal offer has yet been made and when Wenger frequently describes Arsenal’s pending transfer activity as “if something exceptional turns up, we will do it”, he is in part alluding to Benzema’s availability.

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