Arsenal appear to have some serious competition in the race to sign Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.
According to Italian journalist Tancredi Palmeri, who writes for La Gazzetta dello Sport, earlier this week Manchester City made a €70m [£49.55m] offer for the France international, which Madrid are now considering.
Real Madrid have received a 70m€ bid for Benzema from Manchester City! It happened 3 days ago. Real Madrid still haven’t take decision
— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) August 9, 2015
The Daily Mail yesterday reported that the Gunners had sanctioned a £50m club-record bid for Benzema and that they were willing to make him their top earner on a £150,000-per-week contract.
SEE MORE: Arsenal keen to make Benzema highest earner at Emirates, Ozil’s £140,000 wages eclipsed
But City are likely in the market for a forward too, with Edin Dzeko on his way to Roma, as Sky Sports report, and they would not be intimidated by the money which Arsenal are seemingly willing to spend.
Manuel Pellegrini has also allowed Stevan Jovetic to leave Eastlands for Inter Milan on loan this summer, and is perhaps making room for a striker with a proven track record in the Champions League.
City have yet to make a splash in their four seasons in Europe’s premier club competition, never progressing beyond the last 16, and there is pressure from the club’s owners to change that quickly, according to the Daily Mail.
SEE ALSO: Karim Benzema Arsenal medical to take place TODAY, claims ESPN reporter
Benzema has bagged 42 Champions League goals – making him the competitions’s 12th leading all-time scorer – including three against Liverpool last term, one of which was this poacher’s finish.
Talking of bad news for Arsenal…
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