Arsenal are now discussing targeting a loan transfer for Karim Benzema of Al-Ittihad in January, a striker Ian Wright once stated the Gunners’ pursuit of was ‘embarrassing’.
The Highbury hero even felt Benzema ‘mugged Arsenal off’ when Arsene Wenger targeted a transfer from Real Madrid in 2015. Now, Mikel Arteta could turn to the 36-year-old to aid his attacking woes this season. But the north Londoners may have to rival Chelsea for a transfer.
That is according to TEAMtalk, which notes that Arsenal have started to give serious thought to targeting Benzema’s short-term transfer. But Chelsea have also held internal meetings at Stamford Bridge over a move. Arteta will only step up Arsenal’s interest if it is a loan transfer.
Arsenal could rival Chelsea for Karim Benzema’s loan transfer from Al-Ittihad
Arteta has made no secret of his aim to strengthen the Emirates Stadium attack to challenge Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah. But Arsenal are working with a limited budget to stay clear of any FFP problems. So, a loan deal for Benzema could appeal amid his issues at Al-Ittihad.
Benzema quit Real Madrid to join the Saudi Arabian club in a free transfer in June. But he is now facing a tricky situation and could leave in January. So, Arsenal are discussing whether or not they should target his loan transfer if the club can afford Benzema’s lucrative salary.
The five-time Champions League winner and 2022 Ballon d’Or recipient earns £200m-per-season on a three-year contract. It nets the 97-cap France international £3.8m-a-week. So, Benzema or Al-Ittihad would likely have to agree a different structure for his loan to Arsenal.
Chelsea are also continuing to monitor Benzema’s situation at Al-Ittihad with boss Mauricio Pochettino eager to sign a striker. He has scored 12 and assisted five goals in 20 games with the Pro League outfit as their captain. He also left Real Madrid with 354 goals in 648 games.
Ian Wright called Arsene Wenger’s pursuit of Karim Benzema ‘embarrassing’
This is not the first time that reports have credited Arsenal with an interest in the transfer of Benzema, either. Wenger sought to sign the striker from Real Madrid having eyed a 27-year-old Benzema all summer in 2015. Rodney Marsh even said they had a £48m offer accepted.
But the Lyon native brought those claims to a shattering halt when he posted on X: “For all those clowns who want to make believe things at my fans, here this is my home!”
The transfer saga that surrounded Benzema in 2015 frustrated Wright to the point that the Arsenal legend suggested Wenger and the Gunners’ pursuit was ‘embarrassing’. He further claimed Benzema ‘mugged Arsenal off’ through his post saying Real Madrid was ‘my home’.
“I thought the Benzema situation was embarrassing in the way they pursued it,” Wright told BT Sport in September 2015, via quotes by the Daily Mail. “Trying to get a player like that, straight off the bat you have to find out if they’re interested in coming.
“If they’re interested, you pursue it. I thought they dealt with it was pretty bad. And the way he mugged Arsenal off on Twitter by saying Madrid is his home wasn’t great.”
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