REPORT: Extraordinary striker has been offered to Arsenal for January transfer- Meetings between player’s camp and Arsenal finalized- Done Deal- Medicals passed- Player will be on the bench against Liverpool next week

‘Extraordinary’ striker has been offered to Arsenal for January transfer

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have been offered the chance to sign Karim Benzema in the January transfer window.

That is according to The Daily Mail, but another report suggests that a move to Arsenal may not happen.

So, what has been reported about Arsenal and Karim Benzema? Let’s take a look.

Karim Benzema offered to Arsenal

Well, according to The Daily Mail, Arsenal have been given the chance to sign former Real Madrid’s striker Karim Benzema in the January transfer window.

The report has claimed that Arsenal “were offered Karim Benzema earlier this month”. It does not mention the Gunners’ response.

I suspect that Arsenal turned it down. If the North London club were interested in pursuing a deal for the 36-year-old French striker, then the report in The Daily Mail would have given some kind of indication.

The Guardian is reporting that Benzema would be off to Ligue 1 to play for his former club Lyon.

Lyon are in talks over a potential deal for the striker, who joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023 after leaving Real Madrid.

Benzema, who has been linked with Manchester United, came through Lyon’s youth system and played for the first team before moving to Madrid in 2009.

The 36-year-old went on to have a stunning career at Madrid. He scored 354 goals in 658 appearances for Los Blancos and won La Liga on four occasions and the UEFA Champions League five times. Former Madrid star Steve McManaman has described him as “extraordinary”.

My View: Karim Benzema a good short-term option for Arsenal

In my opinion, Karim Benzema would be a good option for Arsenal in the short term. A loan deal for the striker until the end of the season with no obligation to buy could work out well for the Gunners.

Yes, I know that Benzema is on a massive salary at Al-Ittihad, but Arsenal could at least explore a deal which would see the Saudi Pro League club bear most of the sum.

After all, Lyon are in talks to sign the striker, and there is no way that the Ligue 1 club would be able to pay his wages in full.

Gabriel Jesus is not a prolific goalscorer. Benzema was playing for Real Madrid just a few months ago, and even at the age of 36, he remains a class player who knows how to take good positions in and around the penalty box and is clinical.