Arsenal, Chelsea and United Set for Summer Battle in Signing Real Madrid's Benzema - Report
Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United are set for a summer battle in signing Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, according to the Daily Mail.
The French international has bagged 17 goals and registered five assists from 32 league appearances this season. He also scored the only goal of the match against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final first leg clash at Santiago Bernabeu.
The report claims the nine-time European champions are looking to allow Benzema leave in the upcoming transfer window as they look to bring in a star player. Real have set their sights on signing either Liverpool star and PFA Player of the Year Luis Suarez or Manchester City's Sergio Aguero.
The Spanish capital club allowed Mesut Ozil join the Gunners last summer on a £42.5m deal. The La Liga giants are looking for a fee of £40m to let Benzema follow Ozil out of the club at the end of the season.
Arsenal and Chelsea would be keen on bringing in a world class striker in the summer transfer window. United, on the other hand would be looking to bolster their squad in order to challenge for the title next season and make a quick return to Europe's elite club competition.
Arsene Wenger has deployed Olivier Giroud as the first choice striker to lead the Gunners' attack for the most part of this season. Meanwhile, the Blues have the services of Samuel Eto'o, Fernando Torres and Demba Ba, who have collectively failed to deliver consistently.
The trio of English clubs could face competition from Paris Saint-Germain for the 26-year-old striker's services. The same report also claims the Ligue 1 champions will also show interest in signing Benzema.
The French striker was booed by his own fans at the Bernabeu earlier this season. Despite that, Benzema remains committed to the club and is not considering a move away from his current employers.
"I am happy here. I only think of Real Madrid and I consider that this could be my big year," Benzema told Marca earlier in February.
"For me it was very hard to hear cries from the grounds in the Bernabeu but I have matured and now the situation is different. The support from Zidane was key for my morale recovery."
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