Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema has consistently been linked with a move to Arsenal. [Reuters]

Arsene Wenger is ready to seriously bolster his attacking options by attempting to sign Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema in January before trying to convince Fernando Llorente to move to Arsenal next summer.

The Gunners currently sit top of the Premier League table but some of the gloss was taken off their start after they fell to a 1-0 loss to reigning champions Manchester United at Old Trafford last weekend.

Arsenal struggled to create clear cut opportunities and it appeared there was little on the bench to change the outcome with Nicklas Bendtner once again being introduced late on but failing to make any sort of impact.

With Laurent Koscielny suggesting Olivier Giroud will soon need to be rested there has been an outcry from supporters for Wenger to strengthen in January and the Daily Mail report that Benzema will the subject of an offer in January.

It is believed that Arsenal will have to bid around £27.5m in order to convince Madrid to part with the striker who has been playing regularly under Carlo Ancelotti but has received plenty of criticism from supporters.

Benzema has just 18 months left on his current contract and was heavily linked with a move to the Emirates over the course of the summer before Madrid decided to sell Ozil to Arsenal.

The 25-year-old has scored 95 goals for Real Madrid since joining the club from Lyon back in the summer of 2009 and while he would be seen as genuine competition for Giroud, there is also the possibility he could play alongside him as he has done for France.

Wenger has seen the impact Ozil has made and it seems he may well be prepared to once again spend big in order to sign a striker who could help Arsenal finally end their long wait for another Premier League title.

Fernando Llorente
Juventus could be willing to sell Fernando Llorente for a huge profit at the end of the season. [Reuters] Reuters

While it seems he hopes to land Benzema in January Wenger may be forced to wait until the end of the season to lure long-term target Llorente to the club.

Juventus chief executive Beppe Marotta confirmed he would not be sold in January, saying: "There is no way we would consider letting him go at the moment."

Nevertheless the Mail believe that Arsenal could land him for £15m in the summer as Juventus would be prepared to cash-in on a player that they signed for nothing earlier this summer.

Llorente signed on a Bosman from Athletic Bilbao and has started to show his quality for Juventus but a significant offer from the north London club could convince the reigning Serie A champions to sell as he will be 29 by the end of the season.

Should a deal for either player become a reality then it would be a major boost for supporters who feel another top class striker would be the final piece of the puzzle as the club goes in search for a first major honour since 2005.