25 year-old Clichy has been at Arsenal since 2003 and is a consistent member of Arsene Wenger’s squad, but is most likely dispensable with Kieran Gibbs also at the club. French defender Clichy has a reputation for being attacking-minded and according to the Daily Mirror, Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho sees him as an alternative to Brazilian left-back Marcelo.
The Daily Mirror reports that Real Madrid will offer Arsenal their out-of-favour French striker Karim Benzema in part-exchange for Clichy. Benzema moved from Lyon to the Bernabeu last summer. Last term, he scored nine goals in 32 appearances for Real Madrid , but his lack of first team action lead to his exclusion from Raymond Domenech’s French World Cup squad.
Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has previously stated his desire to hold onto the player, but with Benzema having played 90 minutes for Real just twice this season, and scored only one league goal, speculation persists that he will leave the Bernabeu.
If there is any truth in the talk that Nicklas Bendtner could leave the Emirates Stadium for lack of first-team football, there would be room for Arsene Wenger to add a striker to the Arsenal attack.
Benzema has scored eleven goals in 32 games for France, including a striker against England at Wembley last month.