Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Riyad Mahrez and Karim Benzema Rumours

 Arsenal are still seeking to make more additions before the transfer window closes on Tuesday and could be pursuing Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez.According to Paul Hetherington of the Daily Star, Mahrez "is emerging as a player to join the Arsenal chief [Arsene Wenger's] long-term wish list."Per the same report, Wenger said: "I can’t predict what will happen. I am optimistic and we’re working on it. We have Danny Welbeck and Jack Wilshere out and you always want to add goalscorers to your squad."The Algerian has been in stunning form this season, scoring four times already in the Premier League and continuing his excellent end to the previous campaign, as Squawka demonstrated:

By contrast, the Gunners have scored just three times so far this term, two of them courtesy of own goals, and they could use some more firepower if they are to be competitive in the Champions League and the Premier League.

The Foxes are adamant Mahrez will not be going anywhere, though, per BBC Leicester Sport:

Indeed, for as good as Leicester's start has been, they cannot afford to lose one of their key creative talents if they are to survive again in the Premier League.

The Foxes began brightly last year and racked up some early points, including three from a memorable 5-3 victory over Manchester United, but the results dried up in the middle of the campaign, and the team required a late surge—helped in part by Mahrez's form—to stay up.

Therefore, especially this late in the window, their reluctance to part with the 24-year-old is understandable.

A winger isn't what Arsenal especially need anyway. What they ideally need is a goalscorer like Karim Benzema.

The Gunners appear to have missed out on the Frenchman, but Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has admitted he would have welcomed his compatriot's arrival despite what it may have meant for his own chances to play. He told beIN Sports (Alex Harris of the Daily Star): 

It is true that every year here there is speculation about a new striker signing. ... It is obvious that in a club, a team, where a lot is expected, we need several good attackers and I understand that the fans want that we spend more money. ...

The coach knows very well what he is doing, and sometimes you should not buy just to buy, and sometimes there are not players out there that you need, who are available.

Aside from that, it would have been good if Karim had signed too, eh?

ESPN FC's Miguel Delaney believes Giroud isn't quite the top-class striker Arsenal need but admitted the Gunners do have other options than Benzema.

The often-underrated 28-year-old is still a highly useful player for the Gunners and managed to score 19 goals in all competitions last season despite missing a large part of the campaign with a broken leg.

As Arsenal have shown this season, though, their strike force still isn't quite ready to fire them to the title.

With time running out in the transfer window, however, it seems unlikely they'll be able to land the kind of player they need.

Olivier Giroud: Karim Benzema signing would have been just what Arsenal needed this season

The Frenchman thinks his compatriot would have been 'good' for the Gunners, as the transfer deadline looms

Coutrymen: Giroud admits he would have liked Benzema at the Emirates

Olivier Giroud has admitted Karim Benzema is the player that Arsenal needed in this window.

The Gunners beat Newcastle 1-0 on Saturday but have now scored just three goals in their opening four Premier League games.

Despite the club’s interest in Benzema, Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez is insistent that the 27-year-old striker will not be sold in this window.

It means Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is looking elsewhere ahead of tomorrow’s deadline and 28-year-old Giroud admits another high-quality striker is needed at the club.

He said: “It is true that every year here there is speculation about a new striker signing.

In pictures: Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal

"There were seasons when we signed [Alexis] Sanchez and [Danny] Welbeck, others when we were talking about [Luis] Suarez.

"It is obvious that in a club, a team, where a lot is expected, we need several good attackers and I understand that the fans want that we spend more money.

"It is not up to me to answer this question, the coach knows very well what he is doing, and sometimes you should not buy just to buy, and sometimes there are not players out there that you need, who are available.

"We have a very good squad, with quality, and I am sure that with this squad we can go very far.

"Aside from that, it would have been good if Karim had signed too, eh?"

Staying put: Benzema will remain in Madrid

Giroud has also admitted he deserved the nickname ‘lamppost’ after he missed a string of chances against Monaco last season as Arsenal crashed out of the Champions League.

He was criticised at the time by club legend Thierry Henry but believes he will prove yet again this season that he is worth Wenger’s faith in him.

Speaking to BeIN Sports he went on: “Maybe that nickname (lamppost) I deserved after the game against Monaco, but I didn’t play my game.

“It makes me smile more than anything else because I know when I am good or not. There you are going back several months, but I understand that you want to talk about the subject.

“It is true that Titi (Henry) said certain things in his new role as a pundit, he was quite harsh even if we can understand what he was saying.

Responsibility: Arsenal are counting on Giroud to find the net

“I would have preferred that he said these things face to face, but I am not going to go back into it.

“It is finished, all of that is finished. I haven’t lost any confidence, I bounced back really well after that match.

“I think it shows that I have good mental strength, now I think that if we are going to do something great this season we will do it together.

“And I think that the boss knows that we have a very competitive team with lots of quality.”

Manchester United hijack Arsenal deal for Karim Benzema with David De Gea swap

HARRY REDKNAPP has told Manchester United to exploit Real Madrid's desire to sign David De Gea by landing Karim Benzema.

The France international has been linked with a move to the Emirates in recent weeks and is believed to be a key summer target for Arsene Wenger.

However, former Tottenham boss Redknapp thinks United can muscle in on the deal, using De Gea as leverage.

And if the striker is not up for grabs, then an arrangement could equally be done for Sergio Ramos, as according to Redknapp, Louis van Gaal 'holds all the aces'.

He told Kicca: "It looks like De Gea is definitely going. Who's going to come in? Will they try and get someone else coming the other way from Real Madrid, could it be Benzema? It will be interesting to see.

Karim Benzema has been linked with a summer move to Arsenal

"I could see a deal there for somebody, be it Benzema or Ramos? But the good thing for United is that they hold the aces.

"Van Gaal will want somebody at Real to move in the opposite direction, I'm sure. I'm sure there's a bit of poker playing at the moment."

Real Madrid Transfer News: Karim Benzema Chooses Arsenal, Paul Pogba Targeted

 

Venezuelan football presenter Jeinny Lizarazo has provided updates on two key Real Madrid transfer stories, with mixed news emerging on Arsenal’s apparent pursuit of KarimBenzema and Los Blancos’ chase for Juventus sensation PaulPogba.

Here’s the update she posted:

Real have sold off important players in the previous two summers in Angel Di Maria and Mesut Ozil to fund marquee money moves for James Rodriguez and Gareth Bale, respectively, so perhaps it's plausible that a similar offset of funds may be needed to facilitate a big move in this window.

Benzema is one of Real's most important players.

Taking Benzema first, the Frenchman is a forward who knits LosBlancos’ moves together magnificently at the point of the attack, offering a wall for the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez to play off.

As we can see here courtesy of Squawka Football, although his influence is often understated, the Frenchman is consistent when it comes to chipping in with decisive contributions:

It’s what makes any sale almost unfathomable for Los Blancos. WhenBenzema hasn’t played in pre-season, Jese Rodriguez has typically occupied the role at the point of the attack and while he is a good prospect, he doesn’t possess the rounded attributes needed to lead the line for this Real Madrid team.

New Real Madrid manager Rafael Benitez has already reaffirmed that he doesn’t expect the Frenchman to be going anywhere, per MikeKeegan of the Daily Mail:

In addition, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has denied on numerous occasions that there has been any contact with the player. After the Gunners’ 1-0 win over Chelsea in the Community Shield, he insisted that “nothing is happening” with the Real Madrid striker, per theofficial Arsenal website.

Letting Benzema leave would be a major faux pas from Benitez.

Nor would Madrid let anything happen, you would imagine. LosBlancos are on the cusp of such an important season in which they’ll be under massive pressure to win silverware. After failing to score in four of their pre-season games already, selling their thoroughbred No. 9 would be the worst possible preparation for 2015-16.

Drafting in Pogba may sate some supporters, though. The Juventusman is rated as one of the very best youngsters in the game and was superb for the Bianconeri as they secured a league and cup double last season.

Lizarazo claims Real will step up their efforts to sign Pogba.

But Bleacher Report’s Gianni Verschueren doesn’t think the Italian giants are in a position where they can afford to cash in on the player:

Although Juventus are a massive side in their own right, there’s a general consensus that eventually the very top teams, like Real Madrid, will make a move for the player. But for the time being, with Juve’s midfield options diminished and no pressure to sell, to see Pogbamake the switch to Madrid would represent a major surprise.

Pogba would be a wonderful signing for Real, but looks unlikely to move this summer.

Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Johnson ran the rule over some of the business Los Blancos are more likely to conduct in the final embers of the summer window :

CR7, Bale & Benzema Called Into Question

Real Madrid’s front-three of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema have been criticised for their poor goal return in their pre-season tour.

Real’s attacking trio, otherwise known as the ‘BBC’, have been heavily questioned for only managing to score two goals in their pre-season tour of Australia and China.

The only two goals scored from the front-three came in their friendly match against Manchester City, with Ronaldo and Benzema finding the net against the Premier League outfit.

Bale and Ronaldo started in all four of the team’s warm-up games, with the Portuguese completing 226 minutes of game time, while Bale played 237 minutes, according toMarca. 

Benzema played the fewest minutes of the trio, as the Frenchman featured in just 135 minutes of the tour, where he found the net once.

There have also been questions as to how Rafa Benitez will use the three stars, as there have been rumours that Bale could operate as Los Blancos’ number nine.

Last season the trio found the net 100 times, with Ronaldo scoring 61 of those goals, Benzema scoring 22 times, and Bale 17.

Graphic: Real Madrid’s strongest line-up, excluding Karim Benzema

Real Madrid could use Cristiano Ronaldo instead of Arsenal-linked Karim Benzema as the team’s new centre-forward.

Real Madrid have been fairly quiet this summer on the transfer front, but that hasn’t stopped a number of questions being posed about their best starting XI for the upcoming campaign.

The two main players in question are Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and French international striker Karim Benzema, and both for rather contrasting reasons.

Firstly, the future of Benzema has been thrown into doubt following intense reports of Arsenal interest, the Spanish publication AS claiming this morning that the Gunners see him as their ideal summer signing.

The report goes on to say that the Gunners have £45 million in reserve for the striker, a substantial amount of money which could see the La Liga giants willing to strike a deal.

Furthermore, Benzema’s future at the Santiago Bernabeu has been largely questioned due to the potential switch in positions regarding his teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese superstar may well have posted his best ever scoring campaign last season, though he no longer possesses attributes suited to a player coming in off the flanks.

Fans and observers alike will always remember the runs from deep, powerful long range efforts and dazzling step-overs to fool defenders, yet this is no longer the 30-year-old’s style of play.

Ronaldo has gradually become a devastating goal scorer, capable of short bursts into the box, abnormally good heading ability and such quick reactions in small spaces – ideal for a centre-forward.

Boss Rafa Benitez is said to be pondering the idea of placing the former United star in Benzema’s centre-forward spot, freeing space below for Gareth Bale, Isco and James Rodriguez to provide the creativity.

The rest of the team almost picks itself, with Asier Illarramendi, Dani Carvajal, Raphael Varane and Fabio Conetrao providing solid alternatives should injuries, suspension or loss of form occur.

Karim Benzema the man to make Arsenal invincible again, says former Gunner

Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema of Real Madrid take part in a training session

Former Arsenal legend Martin Keown has urged Arsene Wenger to do all he can and sign Karim Benzema from Real Madrid.

The Gunners have been linked with the French striker all summer and Keown feels that his addition would make Arsenal invincible again.

Keown was part of the Arsenal 'Invincibles' of 2004, and he told Talk SPORT: “I’d like to see a striker signed.

“I think there is no doubt about it, I’ve been in that dressing room when a top player comes in, it sends a ripple through the dressing room you feel almost invincible and on the outside the opposition look at how good you were before and think how much better you will be now.

“If you’re not the champions and your striker, Olivier Giroud, didn’t start the FA Cup final last season, there are question marks over that position and maybe they need to be addressed.

“Danny Welbeck is injured. Theo Walcott has just signed a new contract so there are lots of options. I’d just like to see a more mobile and frightening front player to come into that Arsenal group.

“Why not go for Karim Benzema to play down the middle. I think Manchester United are just as keen to get a striker in as Arsenal so perhaps those two will be bidding against each other to bring someone in at the last minute.”

There was a fresh twist in Arsenal's long-running search for a star striker last night however, as one of the club's primary targets, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, signed a new contract with Dortmund.

With the departure of manager Jurgen Klopp, and with a number of other first team players supposedly agitating for a move away from the Westfalenstadion- such as the potentially Spurs bound Sven Bender, Arsenal believed they had a good chance of prizing Aubameyang away from the club.

Aubameyang impressed in what was a very challenging season for Dortmund, and he scored 16 goals in 33 matches for his club.

Arsenal, who have claimed that money is no object in their search for a start forward ahead of the new season, valued the Gabon international at £35 million.

However, the 26 year old former Saint-Étienne man has committed his long term future to Dortmund, by signing a contract extension up until 2020.

Aubameyang's decision will directly impact on the now long-running Karim Benzema transfer saga.

Benzema is Arsenal's top target, and the club are supposedly desperate to tempt the French striker with a move to London.

The player himself is believed to be open to the idea of the switch, and is particularly struck by the idea of working with Arsene Wenger.

Benzema is also thought to be excited by the idea of, once again, becoming a team's leading man. At Lyon and whilst on international duty, Benzema is the star turn, but at Real Madrid he often plays second fiddle to the trio of Ronaldo, Bale and James.

This would not be the case in north London, and Wenger would sanction a contract for the striker that would take him above the club's top earners, which are currently Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, and now Theo Walcott.