Chelsea could miss out on Karim Benzema signing after Manchester United enter the fray
Arsenal and Chelsea could miss out on signing former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, who joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad last summer.
According to Javier Parra Pena, (h/t Football.London) Manchester United have shown interest in bringing the 36-year-old back to Europe. He is currently unhappy at the Saudi League and is now considering moving back to Europe.
Moreover, Benzema is stuck in Mauritius due to a cyclone, and it remains to be seen if he will return to the club. The former France international has recorded 15 goals in 24 appearances for the Saudi Pro League side.
Chelsea are also looking to land a striker following Nicolas Jackson joining Senegal for the African Cup of Nations, while Christopher Nkunku is sidelined with a fresh injury and Armando Broja remains an option in the centre-forward role.
Signing Benzema on loan could prove to be a smart move, as he has all the pedigree to solve our goalscoring problem for the short term and will also help other young forwards.
Currently, it seems dicey because we don’t know if the Saudi side will sanction a loan move or if we will also face competition from Arsenal and United but having the French star will be a great addition to the squad.
He will certainly be a massive upgrade for us because he is the sort of striker who will bring elite quality during attack and has European experience. Moreover, the Mauricio Pochettino approach could suit him, as he is great in transition, helps build up, and boasts excellent position awareness in the box. On top of that, he is going to mentor a lot of the youngsters.
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He can change the dynamic of our team and lead our No. 9 line until we find a reliable striker next season. So, instead of signing a new striker in January, a loan move for Benzema would be more sensible because he has experience, and maybe his acquisition could also increase our chances of securing a spot in the top four.