Lyon coach Claude Puel has admitted the Ligue 1 club would
let Karim Benzema join Manchester United if the France striker
wished to do so.
Benzema: Could move on this summer
The 21-year-old is one of the world's hottest properties at the
moment, with the Red Devils, Inter Milan and Real Madrid among the
clubs reportedly considering a 40 million euro (£34million)
bid.
Both Lyon and Benzema have always claimed he will remain at the
Stade Gerland at least until next summer's World Cup, but Puel
knows that could swiftly change.
"We know his importance at OL and his efficiency in our squad,"
Puel told the club's website. "He's an exceptional player, but we
also know the financial figures of the club.
"We will evaluate the situation with him when he comes back -
July 2 - what he wants to do, we'll listen to him.
"For several months he has said that he wishes to stay with us
for the year before the World Cup.
"If he has any dreams of leaving we will discuss them with him
if there are any concrete offers, which is not the case at the
moment.
"So there is no 'Benzema problem' because the player is still
with us. Ahead of a transfer which could be out of the ordinary,
there is everything to consider."
Puel insists, however, that Benzema will only leave if the club
manage to line up a suitable replacement.
"We will study the situation if it happens to present itself,"
he continued. "This doesn't mean that he will definitely leave
Lyon.
"For any coach it would be a great loss to lose Karim. It would
mean that we have to replace him - therefore it would be out of the
question to lose Karim if one or two players of his calibre were
not coming in."
Benzema came through the ranks with the French giants and burst
onto the scene in the 2007-08 season with 31 goals in 51 games, a
streak that saw him named Ligue 1 Player of the Year as well as top
the scoring charts.
The last campaign was less impressive for both club and player,
as Lyon ended the season without the Ligue 1 title for the first
time in eight years, but the France forward nevertheless scored 23
goals in all competitions - an average of a goal every other
game.