Arsenal FC have fought long and hard to keep Alexis Sanchez at the Emirates Stadium this summer, but with the player clearly unsettled and a lack of Champions League football this season, it looks likely they will lose their talisman before the transfer window shuts on August 31st.
Manager Arsene Wenger recently got the Arsenal board’s full backing to look to keep Sanchez at the club – but Manchester City seem relentless in their approach, and are now understood to be putting together a £70 million deal to Arsenal which is expected to be accepted, however reluctant Arsenal may be to let him go.
However, Wenger has already identified his replacement in the shape of Real Madrid star Karim Benzema – a player that Sports Illustrated says Wenger has ‘always admired’ and one who seemingly is approaching the end of his Madrid career. At 29, Benzema has already enjoyed a distinguished career in Spain, but his lack of pace and advancing years mean his place his now under significant threat, with younger players breaking through and Madrid still extremely keen to bring in Kylian Mbappe from AS Monaco.
With Arsenal having signed Alexandre Lacazette and still having Olivier Giroud in their ranks, another out and out, bustling, French centre forward may not be seen as the ideal replacement for Sanchez – but only a true headline name coming in at Arsenal will appease fan unrest at seeing Sanchez leave – and Benzema is certainly that.
KARIM BENZEMA – REAL MADRID CAREER IN NUMBERS
- 2009/10 : Appearances : 33 Goals : 9
- 2010/11 : Appearances : 48 Goals : 26
- 2011/12 : Appearances : 52 Goals : 32
- 2012/13 : Appearances : 50 Goals : 20
- 2013/14 : Appearances : 52 Goals : 24
- 2014/15 : Appearances : 46 Goals : 22
- 2015/16 : Appearances : 36 Goals : 28
- 2016/17 : Appearances : 48 Goals : 19
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