Arsenal transfer news: Desperation sets in as Aleksandr Kokorin emerges as target

After being shunned by Karim Benzema through the media of Instagram, Arsenal are desperate for a new striker and, according to reports in England, have turned to Dynamo Moscow striker Aleksandr Kokorin.

According to the Telegraph, "sources in Russia say Arsenal have taken the lead in the race for Kokorin, with a deal reported to be close to completion."

They cite the Metro, but the original source seems to be Russian publication Gazeta which says talks are advanced as Arsenal aim to sign the 24-year-old, who has two goals in three league games this season.

Well, this came out of left-field. Kokorin is not a name who has been linked with Arsenal before and his modest achievements in the game are hardly calling out for a big move. He was also linked with Manchester United earlier this week so perhaps this is just a case of an over-active agent doing a good job for his client.

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Going to Arsenal v Liverpool tonight? You might be lucky enough to see Benzema being paraded around the Emirates Stadium pitch if a report in the Daily Star is to be believed - which of course it probably isn't.

First let's look at the claim being made by the paper. The headline seems pretty clear enough:

Arsenal have been linked with the striker all summer and stories connecting Benzema and a move to the Gunners have almost become a cottage industry unto themselves (see the numerous updates below).

This would be the biggest yet though. Are the Star right? Have Arsenal managed to do a deal with Madrid that would see Benzema confirmed as an Arsenal player even before they kick off against Liverpool?

Here's their story in more detail: "The Gunners have been pondering a bid to sign Real Madrid striker Benzema all summer. And now Italian writer Emanuele Giulianelli, who works for Gazzetta dello Sport, says the deal is on the verge of being done. Arsenal face Liverpool at the Emirates tonight. Giulianelli is claiming Benzema will have a medical this afternoon before being shown off to fans before kick-off of the clash."

This is probably the most flagrant piece of transfer nonsense we've seen this summer. The entire source for the Star's story appears to be this tweet, from Friday, from a character who purports to be a journalist working for respected Italian organ Gazzetta dello Sport and, er, Radio Yorkshire. As ever on Twitter, when a user is not verified it's hard to know how seriously to take them.

Not only that, but the Star have also sexed up this already rather startling claim by taking the original tweet out of context and substituting the claim that the transfer will be "confirmed just before kick-off" with the rather more exciting suggestion that the striker will be "shown off to fans before kick-off".

Fine work all round.

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The former QPR man told talkSPORT: "I had a phone call from a mate of mine, and he’s been right on many things, and he said that he believes Real Madrid have accepted a bid somewhere in the region of £48million for Benzema from Arsenal.

In the past this guy has always been right, he’s never been wrong yet, so we’ll have to wait and see.” Seems legit.

A story based on quotes from Rodney Marsh's mate should be taken with a pinch of salt, but the rumours are ramping up that Arsenal are on the cusp of this very special transfer.

Who knows, maybe Rodney's mate is Arsene Wenger.

Former Norwegian international Jan Aage Fjortoft understands that the only hitch in a potential deal is Wenger’s reluctance to push-on with the transfer.

However, a handful of reports on Thursday suggested Arsenal had tabled a £48 million bid – although the source was an unnamed friend of former player Rodney Marsh.

"I had a phone call from a mate of mine, and he’s been right on many things, and he said that he believes Real Madrid have accepted a bid somewhere in the region of £48million for Benzema from Arsenal," Marsh told talkSPORT.

"In the past this guy has always been right, he’s never been wrong yet, so we’ll have to wait and see."

Arsenal drew a blank in their opening Premier League clash against West Ham at the Emirates, although Olivier Giroud scored a wonderful scissor kick in the 2-1 weekend win over Crystal Palace.

The question is a familiar one: will Arsenal sign a world-class striker?

Benzema fits this bracket and the opportunity to snag a leading forward doesn't come around all that often. If he’s available – and the suggestion is that he is – then Arsenal have to seriously consider a deal. The touted figure of £48 million seems extreme, but the rewards could be huge: a first Premier League title since 2003/04.

For all the hype surrounding Arsenal this season, all they’ve done is sign a goalkeeper – and even Petr Cech will take some time adjusting to a new defence. They possess a hugely talented midfield, perhaps the league’s finest, so why not gift them a striker who is proven at putting away chances, rather than get to the season’s end and wonder what might have been?

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is willing to sell Karim Benzema is according to the Daily Star.

The Madrid club reportedly rebuffed a £45 million bid from the Gunners last week but will listen to offers of £50 million the report adds.

The Metro adds that Real Madrid have, in fact, accepted a bid for the player.

The France striker is said to be keen on a move to London which could push the move through.

It looks like these reports stem from an interview given to an American radio station by Rodney Marsh so should be treated with caution.

Furthermore, Perez signed Benzema at the start of his second stint as club president so the likelihood of him sanctioning his sale is remote, as, in effect, it is an admission that one of his marquee signings was a failure.

Additionally, Benzema is key to manager Rafa Benitez’s side and the club have no ready-made replacement should the France international leave.

This deal makes little sense at all.

Arsenal could yet make an astonishing double raid on Paris Saint-Germain to sign Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi from the French champions before the window slams shut.

Uruguay's Cavani is viewed as a forward who could be brought in for around £35m with the pursuit of France striker Karim Benzema from Real Madrid unlikely to materialise over the next fortnight.

The possible signing of Lavezzi would be intriguing with the Mirror claiming this morning that Argentina winger Lavezzi has been offered to Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham United.

Arsenal have also been linked with a swoop for defensive midfielder Marco Verratti of PSG, but that does not look likely this summer.

A £45m spend could see Cavani and Lavezzi arrive at the Emirates Stadium before the close of play in this window.

Lavezzi is out of the picture at PSG and certainly seems to possess the skills to bring plenty of class to the Premier League. Lavezzi would apparently be available for £8.5m and is on £95,000-a-week at PSG. It would be a major coup for Arsenal and boost to their title prospects if they could parade former Napoli companions Cavani and Lavezzi at the Emirates before the end of August.