Arsenal keen on signing Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema

Karim Benzema remains the striker Arsene Wenger would most like to sign for Arsenal but the club has no expectation of being able to bring him to The Emirates this summer as Real Madrid will not offer any encouragement for a bid.

Wenger tried to sign Benzema in 2013, when the striker was their primary target before they were offered Mesut Ozil but failed then.

And it is understood that Benzema, 27, is one of President Florentino Perez’s favourite players and therefore extremely unlikely to be sold.

Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez would only countenance his sale if an equivalent standard striker, such as Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero, could be signed and that isn’t on Real’s agenda at present.

Arsenal have not ruled out the possibility of bringing in a striker to supplement their squad in the five weeks of the transfer window but given that Benzema is not available their assessment is that there are very few strikers of that quality around.

Credit: Rob Draper/SportsMail