Chelsea have reportedly entered the transfer race for Al-Ittihad striker Karim Benzema.
The Frenchman, 36, was one of the first major names to move to Saudi Arabia in the past summer transfer window, which apparently helped convince the likes of Sadio Mane, Aymeric Laporte, Fabinho and N’Golo Kante to join him. However, the striker is unhappy with life in Saudi Arabia and has told Al-Ittihad that he wants to leave, just six months after moving to the Middle East.
According to Ed Aarons of the Guardian, Chelsea have registered their interest in signing Karim Benzema from Al-Ittihad in this ongoing winter transfer window.
Benzema is understood to be training alone after returning from holiday 17 days late and has asked to leave as he feels the Saudi Pro League is not at the required standard. The 36-year-old is seeking a return to Europe, alerting former club Lyon, who hope to sign him on a short-term deal.
The former France international has now become the latest of last summer’s high-profile recruits angling for a move away, after ex-Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson called an end to his time in Saudi Arabia earlier this month, terminating his deal at Al-Ettifaq to join Eredivisie giants Ajax.
Karim Benzema to Chelsea—Shrewd move?
Chelsea have struggled to score goals regularly this season, with the burden falling on Nicolas Jackson. The Senegalese striker, who is currently away at the AFCON, is yet to adapt to the demands of Premier League football fully and has netted only seven goals in 19 appearances. In addition, Raheem Sterling has blown hot and cold while Nicolas Jackson continues to struggle with injury problems in his debut season at Stamford Bridge.
Mauricio Pochettino has made no secret of his desire to add a proven goalscorer to his attacking ranks and they don’t come much bigger than Karim Benzema, who has 450 club career goals under his banner.
A player with the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner’s track record and pedigree could provide the exact boost Chelsea need for the second half of the season. While his age is a potential worry, it would also make the former France international the ideal player to complement Jackson as he would not be a long-term hindrance to the Senegalese’s development. Karim Benzema is a highly experienced striker and could cope with the demands of English football at this stage of his career lending the much needed killer instinct in front of goal which has been missing in the attacking contingent of the Blues this season.
With Chelsea eyeing the possibility of a loan deal until June, this could provide Karim Benzema with a welcome relief from his situation at Al-Ittihad. If the Blues can wrap up a loan deal for the French striker, it would represent a coup of sorts.