In the latest Chelsea transfer news, former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has reportedly made a decision regarding his future amidst speculation of a potential move away from Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad.
The 36-year-old striker has been the subject of transfer links to both Chelsea and Arsenal during the current January transfer window, with Manchester United also reportedly expressing interest.
Recent reports indicated that Benzema might leave Al-Ittihad before the transfer window closes, despite only joining the Saudi Pro League last summer after departing Real Madrid.
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However, according to The Athletic, Benzema has decided to stay with Al-Ittihad beyond the current transfer window. This development suggests that a move to the Premier League with either Arsenal or Chelsea is unlikely before the window’s closure.
Premier League clubs have until 11 pm on Thursday to finalize any last-minute deals. Throughout January, both Chelsea and Arsenal have refrained from making any new additions to their squads for the second half of the season.
While there were earlier rumors suggesting Benzema might stay in Saudi Arabia but join another club in the same league as Al-Ittihad, the transfer deadline for the Saudi Pro League passed on Wednesday. Consequently, clubs from the league will not be able to make any further deals until the summer at the earliest.
Since his move to Saudi Arabia last summer, Benzema has showcased his goal-scoring prowess, netting 12 goals in 20 appearances. Notably, he is not the only player linked with a departure from the Saudi Pro League, as Jordan Henderson left Liverpool last summer to join Al-Ettifaq in a £12 million deal. After a brief period, the former Liverpool captain departed Al-Ettifaq to make a permanent move to Ajax in the Eredivisie.