Sridhar Bhamidi
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho likes to be a step ahead of his rivals. And, if that rival is Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, he may even want to be a million steps ahead. No wonder then that latest reports indicate the Portuguese tactician’s know-how on Arsenal’s striker pursuit.
Don Balon (h/t Daily Star) reports that Mourinho has inside information on the Gunners’ pursuit for Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema next summer. The Frenchman has been a long-time target for Wenger (who isn’t?) and it is not the first time that Arsenal are credited with an interest.
The striker, who joined Los Blancos in 2009, has recently signed an extension that would keep him at the Santiago Bernabeu until 2021. The La Liga Champions have even put a huge release clause in his contract – €1 billion.
Although these release clauses are primarily used as hurdles to knock off interested parties, the huge value indicates how important Benzema is for Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid.
However, there are reports circulating in the Spanish media recently, that the Spanish Champions could be looking at Tottenham Hotspur striking sensation Harry Kane as their next Galactico.
The potential arrival of the Englishman could push one of their existing strikers out of the club and that could be Benzema – or even Gareth Bale. Should the price be attractive, it seems Arsenal would be interested in landing the 29-year-old striker.
Mourinho is apparently informing his close group of lieutenants that Arsenal is looking to make a move for Benzema next summer.
Does that mean the United manager could rival Wenger for Benzema’s signature? I doubt if that is his real intention because if Mourinho wants to snare anyone from the Real Madrid side, it’s got to be Bale.
United were interested in Benzema but that was almost a decade ago. We have Romelu Lukaku in our ranks now and with Zlatan Ibrahimovic set to come back into the side along with the presence of Marcus Rashford, it makes me wonder if we need Benzema.
But, knowing Mourinho, he could try to irk Wenger by going for Benzema – even if he has no need for the striker.
