Karim Benzema Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Real Madrid Striker's Future | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema sparked speculation he could leave the Bernabeu club by posting a cryptic message on Instagram.

The French striker has been linked with a move to Premier League sides Arsenal and Manchester United, but his agent, Karim Djaziri, told Sky Sports News HQ he is "1,000 per cent" sure Benzema will remain in the Spanish capital. Despite Djaziri's statement, Arsenal reportedly have a bid in place for Benzema, but the striker has denied he will leave the Bernabeu.

Continue for updates.

Benzema Shoots Down Madrid Exit Rumours

Monday, Aug. 24

As the transfer saga around Benzema continues to swirl, the player himself broke his silence regarding the rumours, declaring his intentions to remain at Real Madrid on his Twitter account:

Benzema's statement contradicts the Aug. 19 report from Rodney Marsh of talkSPORT, who said an Arsenal bid of "somewhere in the region" of £48 million had reportedly been accepted by Real Madrid, paving the way for Benzema to land at Emirates Stadium.

Manchester City Reportedly Bid for Benzema

Sunday, Aug. 9

"Real Madrid have received a [€70 million] bid for Benzema from Manchester City! It happened three days ago. Real Madrid still haven't [made a] decision," reported Tancredi Palmeri of beIN Sports.

Wenger, Arsenal Reportedly Budgeting for Benzema

Sunday, Aug. 2

"[Wenger] wants to bring the striker to Arsenal and has put aside 65 million euros to lure Benzema to London, although Wenger himself is fully aware of how difficult such an operation would be," reported Conrado Valle of AS, who provided further details on the possible transfer:

Arsenal are looking to add a top level striker and a centre-back to the squad before the season starts and Benzema is a priority. The club’s technical department are studying other options but until they have used up every resource to land the Madrid striker, other candidates will remain secondary to Wenger’s plans.

[...]

But the operation to land Benzema is full of complications. He renewed his contract until 2019 with Madrid just over a year ago and as it stands, he is the team’s first choice striker, although Benitez has experimented this summer with Jese and Cristiano playing in a more central position in an attempt to have an alternative to the ‘BBC’ attacking trio.

Spanish outlet Fichajes (h/t Jamie Sanderson of Metro) reported on July 28 Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was preparing to spend £40.5 million on the striker.

Balague: Benzema Going Nowhere Amid Arsenal and United Rumours

Thursday, July 30

"For those asking: no chance whatsoever of Benzema leaving Real Madrid this summer (so no way he will go to Arsenal)," claimed occasional Bleacher Report columnist Guillem Balague via Twitter.

James Orr of the Independent had earlier corrected misplaced excitement over Benzema's Instagram post:

Karim Benzema sent Arsenal supporters into a frenzy by posting a picture of himself flying on a private jet...but it has now been reported the picture is old, and he is still with Real Madrid on their pre-season tour in Shanghai...not on his way to London.

Benzema's initial post, which caused a stir on July 28, featured the following comment (h/t Chris Wheatley of Eurosport): "Leave the past to the past. #directionfuture."

United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, meanwhile, was said to have met with Djaziri in June, per Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News. Luckhurst noted United "could lodge a £40 million bid."

Benzema recently scored a fine goal in Madrid's 4-1 pre-season dismantling of Manchester City, but he didn't feature during Monday's 3-0 win over Inter Milan. He is often overlooked at the club—where every player is a superstar in their own right—and could become the main player elsewhere.

He is, however, understood to be one of Madrid president Florentino Perez's "favourite players," reported Rob Draper of the MailOnline. The Spanish club would certainly be hard-pushed to replace the powerful star if he was allowed to move on ahead of the upcoming season.

Both Arsenal and United are in desperate need of a prolific goalscorer. Benzema has netted 15, 17 and 11 in his last three Liga seasons and has also contributed an average of 10 assists each year, per WhoScored.com. He is well built and perfectly suited to the physical style of the Premier League but surely remains too important to Madrid.