Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has once again been linked with a move to Arsenal should Alexis Sanchez leave, in another instance of lazy transfer reporting.

The Express are the latest publication to jump on Benzema rumours to try and get Arsenal fans excited. They’re relaying information from Spanish outlet Diario Gol, who claim that Arsenal would be ‘seriously’ interested in Benzema, but only if Alexis Sanchez completes a move to Manchester City.

For what it’s worth, I don’t think either of these moves have any chance of happening. Alexis Sanchez to City was a very commonly spread rumour earlier on in the window and most Arsenal fans probably started to have doubts about whether he’d stay at some stage.

But with eight days to go it would just be too difficult for the Gunners to replace him. Karim Benzema certainly wouldn’t be a good replacement. Arsenal have Alexandre Lacazette and Olivier Giroud up front, with Welbeck as a third alternative.

The area that Arsenal are currently having issues is their options in wide areas. Mesut Özil sort of has the right-hand side covered, but with Alexis out, Danny Welbeck has had to fill in on the left and hasn’t been overly convincing.

If the Chilean was gone for good, this position would become even more of a problem, and Karim Benzema, who didn’t make one single appearance on the wing out of 48 games last season, would not solve the issue.