Benzema/Reus plot, Chelsea pounce after sale, £24.4m — Arsenal Transfer News

Negotiations with Real Madrid for Benzema have been rumbling on for over a month and the Gunners are believed to have identified Bayern Munich’s Lewandowski as a fallback option should they fail in a bid for the French star.

The report states that Arsenal have had a previous bid for £31.3m rejected and since improved their offer to £40m, a figure that Real are reported to be ready to accept.

Arsenal are in talks to sign Juventus sriker Fernando Llorente in a cut-price £8.5m deal, with the player’s agent understood to be in London.

It is thought that Bayern will be looking for more money than what Arsenal will be offering, though with deeper cash reserves, the Gunners will be able to dip into their extra funds in order to get the deal over the line.

Man Utd have already tried and been denied when it comes to Lewandowski, so Arsenal’s chances are slim.

It always looked unlikely the Frenchman would leave Real Madrid, though, and that applies for any window as opposed to simply the current one.

There have been suggestions that Benitez is going to use either Gareth Bale or Cristiano Ronaldo through the middle this season which would explain why Madrid are supposedly eyeing Reus as a replacement for Benzema.

Arsenal have also made an opening offer of £24.4 million for Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets. That news has now been followed by further reports from Spain suggesting that a bid lodged by Arsenal is set to be accepted.

Ismael Bennacer’s transfer to Arsenal has reportedly been completed, with the player posing for pictures while signing his contract.

And finally, Joel Campbell is on his way out of Arsenal (again) as Palermo close in on his signature.

But poor Campbell might have to settle for ANOTHER loan stint as Palermo are struggling to meet the £7 million valuation.