Arsenal set to launch €46m bid for Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema

Arsenal are set to launch a dramatic €46m for Real Madrid’s super French striker Karim Benzema, reports French publication Le 10 Sport.

Benzema scored 20 goals last season for the La Liga runners up, and at 25-years-old, is rightly regarded as one of the best forwards in Europe.

Unfortunately for the Gunners, the bid strikes more of desperation than realism. After Real Madrid sold Arsenal target Gonzalo Higuain to Napoli earlier in the summer, Benzema is the only established centre-forward at the club. Cristiano Ronaldo obviously scores a lot of goals, and the impressive Alvaro Morata is developing quickly, but Los Blancos would be crazy to sell their French star too this transfer window.

Arsenal are publicly desperate to sign a world-class forward this summer, and have made Liverpool’s enigmatic forward Luis Suarez their primary target. The Gunners have already had two bids rejected, and could return with a British record £51m bid in the coming days. Liverpool though haverepeatedly told their Premier League rivals that the striker is not for sale, and the Gunners look like they have again turned to Real Madrid with only three weeks left of the transfer window.

Arsene Wenger reportedly has a substantial budget to spend, but has so far only brought in Yaya Sanogo on a free transfer.