Arsenal: Arsene Wenger open to 'exceptional' transfer but suggests Karim Benzema link is media talk

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has rejected talk of an imminent move for Karim Benzema and dismissed all speculation as 'media talk', while insisting that the club are open to more additions if something 'exceptional' turns up.

The Gunners have been heavily linked with a move for the Real Madrid forward, with Spanish publication El Confidencial suggesting that the north London club had contacted the La Liga giants over a move for the striker.

The Daily Mail reports that Arsenal will have to pay around £45m ($69.7m) to have any chance of bringing the French international to the Emirates Stadium.

The French manager has been urged by former players to sign a top quality forward, as the club looks to mount a serious title challenge in the upcoming campaign. Thierry Henry believes the addition of Benzema will make the 12-time FA Cup winners genuine title contenders.

However, Wenger feels that he has the necessary striker force at the club, as last season top scorer Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck are yet to join the squad and will only add if a special player becomes available.

"No, you think for me about that. I never came out on Karim Benzema. It is just media talk," the Frenchman said, as quoted by the London Evening Standard.

"At the moment we do not have Sanchez, not Welbeck, and when these players come back we feel that we have the needed striking force. But we don't rule out as well if something exceptional turns up to do it," Wenger added, as quoted by the Daily Mail.

The Gunners manager has reiterated his desire to start the campaign in a strong manner unlike last season, and believes that his team have had a better pre-season than previous years, while insisting they are ready to challenge the likes of Chelsea and the two Manchester clubs for the Premier League title.

"I'm motivated to start well. One of our targets is to start strong, we've had good preparation and that should give us needed confidence."

"The Premier League is a fight in every single game so we have to prepare ourselves mentally for that and come out of the blocks straight away against West Ham. Every game of pre-season went well... I cannot remember much better (preparation)," the Gunners boss explained.

"We won the cup last year; we finished third in the league so our target is very high. We want to win the Premier League."