Arsenal Could Land Benzema for Just £20m as Madrid Eye Lewandowski – Report

Arsenal may well have the opportunity to land another player from Real Madrid after it was suggested that the Spanish side are prepared to allow striker Karim Benzema to leave in January.

Arsene Wenger was heavily linked with Benzema over the course of the summer when it became clear that Madrid would be forced to sell at least one player in order to part fund their world record bid for Gareth Bale.

Eventually Mesut Ozil would be sold to Arsenal for £42.5m and Benzema remained at the club. However, it has been an inauspicious start for the French striker as he received plenty of criticism from supporters.

Madrid fans have called for academy graduate Alvaro Morata to be handed more chances in the first team and have consistently voiced their frustration with Benzema who has scored just two league goals in eight appearances this season.

Morata grabbed a late goal against Levante as Madrid eventually secured a 3-2 win thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo winner in injury time, with Benzema once again on the receiving end of plenty of criticism.

Now reports in both Spain and England suggest that Benzema could be allowed to leave in January, with Arsenal being suggested as one possible destination due to the fact they have a shortage of options up front.

Wenger may well be on the lookout for a new striker in January after admitting that he may look to strengthen in January. First choice forward Olivier Giroud also knows Benzema well as the two have played together for France on several occasions.

The Express reports that Arsenal would have to pay as little as £20m for the 25 year old who last season scored 20 goals in all competitions for Madrid.

Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has stuck by Benzema but it seems president Florentino Perez has now turned his attention to trying to lure Robert Lewandowski to Spain after the Borussia Dortmund striker indicated that he was yet to agree a move to Bayern Munich.

It has been expected that the Polish striker would complete a move to the German champions when his contract expired next summer but his latest comments have alerted Real Madrid to his availability.

"Officially, I cannot say anything until January. Right now it's too early and we'll have to wait a bit," said Lewandowski.

Spanish paper Marca reports that Madrid are now keen to try and lure the prolific marksman to the club in January as they look to try and resurrect their season after a difficult start.