France

Report: Barca Prepare €65 Million Bid For Benzema

Reports in the French press today suggest that Barcelona could be preparing to make Karim Benzema their most expensive signing ever, with a bid of €65 million.

Jan 12, 2009 8:27:57 AM

Benzema - Fiorentina-Lione Champions League (Grazia Neri)

Barcelona are set to make Karim Benzema their most expensive signing ever next summer, as they prepare a bid of €65 million for the player, according to Aujourd'hui Sport.

The Lyon youngster has been rumoured to be leaving the French club for some time now, and it seems he has only three possible destinations.

Barcelona are certainly one of them, but alongside the Catalan side, are Real Madrid and Manchester United.

Indeed, The News Of The World reports that should Carlos Tevez leave Old Trafford, as looks likely, the English side will put in a bid of €45 million for Benzema.

As for Madrid, it is known that the Frenchman is a fan of the club, and has already stated his desires to play there.

The main stumbling block for any possible transfer is Lyon president, Jean Michel Aulas, who does not want to let his man go for cheap.

In fact, the price that he is rumoured to want is believed to be somewhere around the €100 million mark, almost alienating all potential buyers.

However, should Barcelona offer an amount above €50 million it seems highly unlikely that Lyon would be able to reject it, especially with the player seemingly ready to move on.

-- James Walker-Roberts, Goal.com