However, the Gunners are now looking at the pair after their failed attempts to sign Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, but they’ll need to stump up £45million to begin negotiations.
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While the deal remains merely speculation, former teammates Thierry Henry and Kaka have both urged Arsenal to sign the 27-year-old in recent weeks, despite manager Arsene Wenger labelling the reports as “media talk”.
The fact of the matter is that Arsenal has always been somewhat of a miser at spending in the transfer windows.
Djaziri told Sky Sports: “Karim is very happy at Real Madrid and he will be a Real Madrid player by the end of this transfer window, 1,000 per cent”.
Arsenal would have to test that resolve with a bid in excess of £45million but, as yet, they have received no indication Benzema has had a change of heart over his immediate future.
Arsenal’s initial budget for a bid was £35 million but the team would now be prepared to spend as much as £45 million to bring him to London.
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Wenger has identified Benzema as the kind of “exceptional” talent to improve his FA Cup winners and lead the line for the Gunners as they target a first Premier League title since 2004. Now Cavani of Paris Saint-Germain is the only option left to strengthen the strike.
