Arsenal are exploring a shock swoop for Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani as their hopes fade of landing top target Karim Benzema.
The Gunners have started looking at alternatives to France star Benzema, who Real Madrid insist is not for sale.
A move for Cavani, 28, has been discussed by the Arsenal hierarchy, with manager Arsene Wenger desperate to sign a forward before next week’s transfer deadline.
He is only interested in proven, world-class players but whether PSG would consider selling Cavani remains to be seen.
The Uruguay forward’s raft of advisers also make any deal difficult to broker.
That has not put off Arsenal, though, as they go back in for a player they first tried to sign in January 2013. Cavani was with Napoli at that time and switched to PSG the following summer for £55million.
He has scored 54 goals in 79 games for the French side since then.
Benzema did his utmost yesterday to quell talk of a move to the Emirates Stadium.
The 27-year-old has played a bit-part role for Real recently owing to a thigh injury, as talk about a potential switch to Arsenal has escalated.
But Benzema posted a picture of himself in a Real shirt on Twitter yesterday and wrote: ‘For all those clowns who want to make believe things at my fans. Here this is my home!’ – Daily Mail