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Karim Benzema has an agreement with Arsene Wenger
The Real Madrid striker has been linked with Arsenal for seasons now without any concrete display of interest from either side. However, the former Lyon striker's time looks to be up at the Bernabeu as the Champions League holders are enduring a tough season with Benzema struggling in front of goal. The 30-year old has just scored six times in 22 appearances in all competitions this season.
Considering Madrid's history, a big summer could be on the cards and Benzema could become one of the casualties in the transfer market. Thus, Diario Gol, report that the hard-working forward has an agreement with Wenger to join the Gunners in the summer. However, the deal will not be a straightforward one with both clubs differing in their valuations.
Arsenal are not willing to spend more than €40 million on a player who is on the wrong side of 30. Meanwhile, Madrid are holding out for a minimum of €60 million to let their star striker, who scored 187 goals for the club till date, leave the club.
While signing a forward on the decline could backfire, Benzema's experience could come in handy for changing games off the bench at the minimum.
Olivier Giroud is Edin Dzeko's alternative for Chelsea
Antonio Conte's side have been in the market for a backup to Alvaro Morata after the gaffer looks to have run out of patience with Michy Batshuayi. The Blues are in negotiations with AS Roma for former Manchester City striker, Edin Dzeko with reports in Italy stating that the player has one foot already in London.
However, the deal looks to have stalled due to the contract length and Chelsea have already lined up alternatives with not much time left in the window. Among them are Stoke City's Peter Crouch, Burnley's Ashley Barnes and Arsenal's Olivier Giroud. The latter has been linked with a loan move to Borussia Dortmund but this move looks to be in doubt as well with Arsenal struggling to agree a fee with the Bundesliga club for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Thus, both the stalled deals could see Chelsea bid for Giroud, who only has 18 months remaining on his contract and the World Cup on the horizon. On one hand, it remains to be seen whether Wenger will allow another Arsenal player join a domestic rival after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Alexis Sanchez joined Liverpool and Manchester United respectively this season.
On the other hand, Giroud would likely prefer moving to Chelsea, a London club, after rejecting a move to Everton in the summer as his wife, Jennifer, wanted to stay in the English capital.
Alan Pardew hands Arsenal huge boost
The Gunners have been linked with West Brom's Jonny Evans for a while now and are looking to sign him in this window as per the Independent. The three-time Premier League winner with Manchester United is valued at £20 million by the Baggies, who are currently embroiled in a relegation battle. Now, manager Alan Pardew has handed the Gunners a huge boost in his pre-match press conference ahead of the FA Cup clash against Liverpool. He said:
“We’ve had a couple of enquiries about what we’d be looking for. The answer has been, ‘we’re not going to tell you’. ‘Make a bid and we’ll get a gauge’. We don’t really want to sell Jonny Evans, he’s been terrific for me. I think we’ve been realistic."
"I looked him in the eye and said ‘we know the situation.' If a bid comes in that’s acceptable and you want to go to that particular club we’ll give you that option and use the money to strengthen the team if we can."
“It’s debatable if we lose Jonny whether we’re strengthening the team. All those equations come into the next five days.”
Thus, Arsenal have a great chance to sign a classy and experienced defender in the coming days to replace the retiring Per Mertesacker at the end of this season.
