Arsenal have long salivated over French hitman Karim Benzema, and with Zinedine Zidane having replaced Rafa Benitez as the manager of Real Madrid, Arsene Wenger’s hopes of signing the striker have received a timely boost.
The Premier League leaders courted the French international all summer, with the striker dropping a number of hints that he was open to such a switch.
But Benitez convinced the forward to stay, and was rewarded with an impressive hit-rate of 12 goals in 13 league games.
However, Zidane’s arrival has thrown Benzema’s future into doubt, despite the fact that the new manager confirmed his intention to play him alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale against Deportivo in his first match on Saturday.
With club president Florentino Perez keen to add to Real Madrid’s attacking ranks in a show of power, and with Zidane already struggling to include talented attacking midfielders such as Isco, James and Jese, it is widely thought that one of Madrid’s front-line trio will be sold.
Benzema has been in good enough form for Madrid
Until recently, it was assumed Ronaldo would be the man moved on by Zidane, but in one of his first-press conferences he laughed off suggestions the Portuguese superstar could leave, before rubbishing Bale exit rumours, in a clear blow to Manchester United.
“It's not just that (Ronaldo) isn't for sale, instead he's the heart and soul of this team,” Zidane said. “I laugh because as long as I'm here, he isn't going anywhere".
Cristiano and chum
He was less emphatic in throwing his support behind Benzema, however, and the fact that Zidane has in the pass claimed that “(Benzema) will never score 60 goals a season, like Ronaldo” has reignited Arsenal’s interest in the 28-year-old.
It is not lost on Arsene Wenger that Perez remains disappointed in Benzema after the alleged blackmail scandal that rocked both the Real Madrid and French national team dressing room at the end of 2015, and suddenly he appears the most likely Madrid star to exit.
Arsenal’s revitalised campaign to bring Benzema to the Emirates may have ended the club’s interest in prizing Troy Deeney away from their London rivals, Watford.
Deeney has been in superb form for Watford this season, scoring six goals in his last 11 games for the club.
He would offer Arsenal an entirely new dimension to their attack, and refused to completely rule out a move when quizzed on his future by journalists recently.
Deeney would be open to a move
He said: "The pleasing thing from my point of view and from (Ighalo's) is people want us. That shows that we have been doing something right for the past five, six months.
"But we have got a project to complete and the gaffer has stated before that whatever happens in the summer, will happen in the summer."
However, Arsene Wenger on Friday ended the speculation, when asked if the rumours linking Arsenal to Deeney were ‘rubbish’. His response?
“Yes.”
Derp.
The future of club captain Mikel Arteta appears far less certain, however. The 33-year-old has struggled for first-team football this season having lost his spot in the started XI to Francis Coquelin, and his future at the Emirates looks bleak after Wenger also bolstered his midfield ranks with the acquisition of Mohamed Elneny.
The Brentwood Gazette are now reporting that West Ham may make an attempt to sign the Spaniard in the January transfer window.
Skipper Arteta could be on his way out
A number of clubs are keen on snapping up a player of Arteta’s undisputed quality and experience, but the possibility of a move to a club that will in all likelihood be playing European football next season, as well as being able to remain in London, could prove too good for Arteta to turn down.
January transfer window closes in
And finally, following surprise reports in The Sun that Chelsea will attempt to sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from their London rivals, former Chelsea assistant-boss Ray Wilkins has urged the Blues to swoop for the midfielder.
“I would say to Oxlade-Chamberlain: leave, because he needs to be playing football,” Wilkins said on talkSPORT. “We’ve got these massive Championships coming up in the summer.
“He’s very positive and he’s quick. I think you could even play him in a midfield three because he can go past people.
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