It looks like being a long and anxious wait for the Arsenal fans this summer, or those of us that are hoping for Arsene Wenger to sign a top class centre forward anyway. Because it may well be that the transfer of the France international star Karim Benzema will not be done until the very end of the summer transfer window, just as it was when Wenger shocked us all by signing Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid.
The reason the Gunners are having to be patient, according to a report in the Spanish paper El Confidencial, is down to the plans of Madrid´s new manager Rafa Benitez and whether the former Tottenham star Gareth Bale can adapt to his new role.
There has already been talk about Benitez using Ronaldo as his central striker but after their first game of pre-season it became clear that it is the Welshman that could occupy this role. Benitez spoke about his use of Bale after the game and insisted that it was not just an experiment but a definite tactic. He hopes that the extra space and freedom will bring the best out of Bale who he wants to take over from Ronaldo as the talisman of the team.
And we should all hope that it works because if it does, then Benzema will be ready to move to Arsenal, with Wenger reportedly having already sounded him out, and Madrid will be willing to sell.
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