Arsenal Transfer Rumours: January Switch for Fernando Llorente on the Cards

Arsenal are looking at the possibility of signing Fernando Llorente from Juventus in January.

The Spanish international striker has not exactly set the world alight after his move to the Italian champions in July on a free transfer and is thought to be open to a switch to Arsenal in search of more first team opportunities.

The former Athletic Bilbao man is desperate to force his way into the Spanish national team setup with the 2014 World Cup just around the corner and could look at the move to Arsenal as a perfect way to do just that.

Arsene Wenger still needs a proven striker in his squad to help reduce the burden on Olivier Giroud, and Llorente does fit that bill quite well.

Llorente was linked with a move to Arsenal for a while before Juventus confirmed they had reached a pre-contract agreement, and Wenger is thought to have scouted the 28-year-old on more than a few occasions.

Arsenal are not looking at a permanent deal, according to the Daily Mail, and are happy to thrash out a six-month loan move.

That might suit both parties and it remains to be seen if Juve will be open to letting the player go just six months after signing him amid such fanfare.

Meanwhile, Karim Benzema has hit out at comments questioning his work ethic after Carlo Ancelotti said the French striker could learn from his Real Madrid teammate Angel Di Maria.

Benzema has been the target of boo boys at Real Madrid this season, which has led to suggestions that he could leave in the January transfer window.

Arsenal are the club that have been linked heavily with the French international, with Wenger reportedly keeping close tabs on the situation.

Benzema, though, feels he has wrongly been targeted. "What attitude? Carlo Ancelotti did not say (that I was not working enough)," he is quoted as saying by the Daily Express. "He said that me and Angel Di Maria did not have the same share of defensive work.

"I'm a frontman. Of course I'm the first defender but I won't do the job of a full back or a midfielder.

"It's not a question of attitude. You talk about attitude when a player does not want to play football. But I walk on to the pitch, I want to play football.

"For example, when I play for France... I run almost 10 kilometres per game. It's unfair because I do run.