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Which clubs Karim Benzema could join this month following Arsenal links
Journalist Ben Jacobs has shared which clubs the decision-makers in Saudi Arabia are willing to let Karim Benzema join following claims that he has been offered to Arsenal.
Karim Benzema appears to be a contender to be on the move in the final stages of the January transfer window. It appears that he is unhappy with Al-Ittihad just a few months after his move from Real Madrid in the summer.
It is not 2015, but the Frenchman is indeed being linked with a move to the Premier League. Arsenal have apparently been offered the chance to sign Benzema as Mikel Arteta looks to add further fire-power to his ranks.
Karim Benzema unlikely to leave Saudi Arabia despite Arsenal links
Journalist Dean Jones was willing to suggest that he is pretty confident that Benzema will not be going to Arsenal. And it seems that Jacobs is just as doubtful.
Jacobs told that there had been no interest from Arsenal, but did stress that things generally can change, particularly as the deadline looms.
However, that is not the only hurdle to clear, with those in change at Al-Ittihad not prepared to let him leave for a club outside of the Kingdom.
“To get out of Al-Ittihad, Benzema needs the green light from [Ramon] Planes and [Marcelo] Gallardo – his sporting director and manager – from PIF, who control the club, and from the ministry of sport,” he said.
“And I’m still told there’s major reluctance from the ministry of sport and from senior PIF figures to let Benzema go. And was he to go, they would only want him on loan within Saudi Arabia because the optics of him going, of Henderson going, of Jota going, and potentially others, are not what the wider league is looking for at this stage. If Benzema goes, how do you know that Kante won’t want to go during the summer and others. So it could be a bit problematic.”
Gunners fans were probably not holding their breath anyway
Most Arsenal fans probably would have held out little hope of a move for Benzema materialising in this window anyway. Ultimately, there is a reason that the Gunners have not yet brought anyone in when the Premier League title race is hotting up.
Benzema is one of the greatest strikers of the 21st century. So he will not come cheap, even at this stage of his career.
And at 36, he would not be someone who is going to really improve under Arteta.
At some stage, Arsenal may be prepared to adapt their strategy and target those at, or maybe even slightly past, the very peak of their powers.
But this window looks unlikely to be that moment.