Arsenal are reportedly plotting a double swoop on Real Madrid as they seek to strengthen their squad ahead of the 2017/18 season. Real Madrid pair Danilo and Karim Benzema are the names being brought into the focus.
According to Spanish outlet Don Balon, the north London giants are planning an ambitious attempt to lure the Los Blancos duo following yet another frustrating season in the Premier League.
The Gunners made a decent to good start to their league campaign, but a series of defeats during the festive period ended their title chances once and for all.
Arsene Wenger’s are now 18 points adrift of champions-elect Chelsea, and they now find themselves in a peculiar position where they could miss out on a top-four finish.
As per Don Balon, both Danilo and Benzema could be offered a route to the Emirates, but a deal could be hugely dependent on the sale of Hector Bellerin to Barcelona.
Barcelona have been angling towards the player’s services since the start of the season, and the club are prepared to step up their interest irrespective of the full-back’s contract, which is only due to expire in 2023.
Bellerin’s proposed sale to his former club would allow the Gunners to attain a decent transfer package which in turn could be used to fund the transfers of Danilo and Benzema.
Danilo deemed the ‘next Roberto Carlos’, has not quite lived up to his expectations at the Bernabeu, and he is more or less a squad player behind Danny Carvajal.
The FA Cup finalists would be willing to stump up a £17.2m for his signature, which is still significantly less than the £27m fee paid to Porto by Los Blancos in 2015.
Meanwhile, the deal could also involve the potential signing of France international Karim Benzema, who is yet to make himself a favourite among the Bernabeu faithful.
Benzema has been preferred ahead of Alvaro Morata for most of the season, but the idea of playing Cristiano Ronaldo in the centre-forward role next term could pave the way for the Frenchman’s exit.
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