Arsenal Ready to Make Record Breaking Move for £22.5m Real Madrid Striker Karim Benzema

Arsenal are ready to make a significant bid for Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema this summer as Arsene Wenger looks to improve his side’s striking options. The French international has long been a target of the North London club and the Gunners boss will hope that the lure of regular first team football may tempt the former Lyon striker.

The 23 year old Bernabeu star is very much a back up player and though he initially failed to make the most of his run in the first team, that came as a result of long term injury to Argentine Gonzalo Higuain, a run of good form has led to the Real Madrid man netting 22 goals this season.

However Jose Mourinho has made it abundantly clear that he will be looking to refresh his attacking options with a move to sign another striker which will in turn leave Benzema once again warming the bench and could lead to the powerful forward looking to leave the Spanish giants.

Arsenal have had to rely heavily on Robin Van Persie for firepower over the past couple of seasons and injury concerns plague the Dutch international who has missed more games than he has started during his seven years at the club. New signing Marouane Chamakh started the season brightly but has looked well off the pace since Christmas and back up alternatives Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela are tipped to leave the club at the end of the season.

Whilst Arsene Wenger is known for being something of a spendthrift after six seasons without tangible success or silverware, the Frenchman is ready to make big name moves to help appease the star players he has at the club who are looking for a statement of intent in the form of established star signings this summer.

Real Madrid be looking for at least €25m (£22.5m) for Benzema and whilst that would represent a trasnfer record fee for Arsenal it is still some way below the €41m paid to Lyon for the young striker just under two years ago and a seemingly fair fee for a player of his age and potential.