Arsenal transfer news: Arsene Wenger plays down Karim Benzema reports

The back page of Friday’s Sun claimed Arsenal were ready to offer £40 million for the France international, who is said to be available this summer.

[PAPER ROUND: Arsenal poised to make £40m Benzema move]

But Wenger quietened such transfer talk during a press conference ahead of the Barclays Asia Trophy final against Everton.

"I don't know where that story has come from,” said Wenger. “But that's not happening at the moment."

Benzema’s international colleague Olivier Giroud is Arsenal’s most established centre-forward, with Danny Welbeck in reserve and Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez also capable of playing through the middle.

Chuba Akpom, 19, will also be in contention for the first team this season and scored a hat-trick in Arsenal’s opening Barclays Asia Trophy match against a Singapore Select XI.