Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to make a £21million bid for Lyon's
Karim Benzema.
The French striker, 19, is seen as the next Thierry Henry and
Ferguson has told the Manchester United moneymen to do whatever it
takes to secure the deal.
United were at Lyon's Champions League clash with Rangers last week
to iron out details and after Benzema scored twice in a
man-of-thematch performance at Ibrox, the price rocketed.
Ferguson had hoped to land him in a player swap deal only with
Louis Saha and Mikael Silvestre on the table, but after Wednesday's
dazzling display he's had to add £6m.
Saha has never fully recovered from injury and Ferguson has lost
patience with him, while Silvestre wants to move for first-team
action having been sidelined behind Patrice Evra.
A source close to United said: "United have had to offer more than
they would have wanted for Benzema, but after his display the other
night Ferguson is even more convinced he's grabbing a massive
star."
United aren't going to stop spending in January either as they eye
up Bordeaux striker Gabriel Obertan for £5m as Fergie is desperate
to have four fit, worldclass strikers.
Ferguson knows he cannot rely on only Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez
for every competition and sees Benzema and Obertan as players with
the pace and skill to finish off his striking lineup for years to
come.
United have been missing a targetman with Rooney having to be the
main man up front, but with Benzema and Obertan standing at just
over six foot tall they would be perfect additions to Fergie's
squad. While the United boss has been wat ching Benzema closely
since the start of the season, Obertan (pictured below) is a player
the Scot has hoped to sign before.
The 18-year-old Frenchman was chased by Ferguson and Chelsea in the
past before he signed his professional contracts with Bordeaux, but
rejected a move 18 months ago to gain first-team experience.
Obertan was a star student at the French National Institute for
Football where he was first spotted and Fergie is convinced he has
his man this time around.
Ferguson will have the Premier League running scared if he can land
two of Europe's top starlets.
