Premier League rivals Manchester United and Arsenal will have to smash the world transfer record if they want to sign striker Karim Benzema from French Champions Olympique Lyonnais.
20-year-old Benzema has been at the Stade Gerland since 2004 and is considered one of the hottest properties in European football, with the young player already a full French International. The forward has also made a superb start to the Ligue 1 season, with 5 goals already as well as a goal against Serie A side Fiorentina in the Champions League.
Benzema had been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford in the summer, with United boss Sir Alex Ferguson a big admirer of the striker. Gunners manager Arsene Wenger was also reportedly interested in bringing his countryman to the Emirates Stadium this summer.
However, Lyon have moved quickly to ward off any potential suitors, by inserting a £8omillion buy-out clause in Benzema’s deal at Lyon, which runs until 2013.
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas said: “We have signed a contract with him until 2013, with a get-out clause of 100million euros.”
The forward had previously stated a desire to play for La Liga Champions Real Madrid one day, but insisted that he was happy in France for the time being and was focused on firing Lyon to victory in this season’s Champions League.
Benzema told Spanish newspaper Marca: "I like Real Madrid, but I think that I'm still too young to sign for a club like that.
"I think that I need to get more experience and I'd like to help Lyon be a European champion.
"Then, in the future, we'll see what happens."
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