Benzema and Al Ittihad meet to resolve the striker’s future
The French forward will have to take a significant salary reduction if he is to make a return to the European game within the current transfer window.
Question marks still surround Karim Benzema’s future with Jeddah based al Ittihad as the Saudi Pro League is currently on a break due to the AFC Asian Cup.
The French striker is reported to be looking for an exit from the ‘Tigers’ and meetings are ongoing between both sides to see if any mutually suitable deal can be thrashed out.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano claims that more meetings are planned between the player and the Saudi club in order to break the deadlock but the one certainty is that if the French forward is to return to a European club, he would have to accept a drastically reduced salary.
Benzema has been linked with Chelsea, Olympique Lyon and Manchester United though former Red Devil Dimitar Berbatov feels that a move to Old Trafford would not be a wise move: “Although United is linked with Benzema, he will want to play in the Champions League and I think he still wants to play regularly. He is very similar to Cristiano Ronaldo in that sense. “He also wants to win trophies.”
The Bulgarian added: “I think Benzema would have more playing time at Chelsea because Nicolas Jackson is still finding his place and London offers a big city environment. Arsenal would be another good alternative as they are still involved in the Champions League and Arsenal would suit his style of play. He has an interesting decision to make, but now he would probably choose to move to a London club,” Berbatov concluded.