Arsenal have been cleared to sign Real Madrid and France international Karim Benzema, as the new manager Rafa Benitez looks to make some changes at the Spanish club.
Since Benitez is planning to play Cristiano Ronaldo into a main striking role, The French international will reportedly be allowed to leave the Bernabeu this summer if the right price comes their way.
The Gunners are thought to be preparing a £17.8m bid in order to take advantage of the change in situation, as they look for a goal poacher to partner Olivier Giroud.
The North London side could face competition from Premier League rivals Manchester United though, as the Red Devils look to strengthen arguably their weakest area on the pitch.
United are facing the prospect of starting the season with Wayne Rooney as their only senior striker, after the end of Radamel Falcao's loan spell and the likely departures of Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez this summer, and they may look to Benzema if they fail to capture Tottenham's Harry Kane.
The Gunners look to be in pole position to sign the 27-year-old, who scored 15 goals in La Liga last season, with a further half a dozen strikes in the Champions League.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, who scored over 200 goals for the club and won two Premier League titles, criticised Giroud near the end of last season, "I think Giroud is doing extremely well. But can you win the league with him? I wouldn't think so. He does a job, and he does it ever so well, but you can't win the league." He said that the club needs to sign another striker to be title contenders.
Arsenal have made just one signing this season, but their capture of Petr Cech has been hailed as one of the biggest moves of the summer, with many pundits believing that Cech could be the difference for the Gunners next season.
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