Real Madrid have resigned themselves to letting go of Karim Benzema to Arsenal this summer, despite Rafa Benitez strongly denying the France international striker would leave.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said the same as well, playing down the club's move for the 27-year-old, but that has not stopped the transfer rumours from springing up one story after another pretty much every day.
Wenger is thought to be in the market for a marquee player, preferably a central striker, and Benzema is reportedly the Arsenal manager's No.1 target for the summer transfer window.
The transfer rumour mill has been a merry-go-round of "Oh the Benzema transfer is close" "wait, nope, it is not going to happen" stories, but, according to the Daily Telegraph, Real Madrid have given the go-ahead over the Benzema sale.
Alvaro Morata, Fernando Llorente and Sergio Aguero have been lined up as replacements, along with the exciting German Marco Reus, who if he signs, will see Cristiano Ronaldo move to a more central position.
However, if Benitez is to be believed, Benzema is going nowhere this summer.
"My answer is yes, I believe he's going to say," Benitez said of Benzema when asked if the striker's future remained at the Bernabeu. "I can't see any reason why he would have to leave. I'm very happy with him."
As everyone knows, though, the manager at Real Madrid has little to no power when it comes to transfers, with president Florentino Perez and the rest of the board taking those decisions. Perez, however, is a big fan of Benzema, and you feel the only way the striker is likely to be sold is if Real suddenly find that perfect striker/Reus to fill the void which will be created by the former Lyon man's departure.
The Frenchman, along with Ronaldo, has been left behind in Madrid owing to an injury as Real prepare to play in the Audi Cup in Munich on Tuesday and Wednesday, and that should add a bit more fodder to the transfer rumour mill.
So, expect more "he is moving", wait, "nope he is not" stories in the coming days.
