Manchester United urged to sign ex-Real Madrid star Karim Benzema in January swoop: ‘How can you say no?’

Manchester United have been encouraged to repeat prior transfer business by swooping for an aging star forward in the form of former Lyon and Real Madrid marksman, Karim Benzema, with former center half, Rio Ferdinand questioning how the Old Trafford side could turn down the chance to sign the French striker.

United, who returned to Premier League action over the course of last weekend, saw goals from Ramus Højlund, and Marcus Rashford cancelled out a pair of equalising efforts from Richarlison, and Uruguayan midfielder, Rodrigo Bentancur.

And relying heavily on young Denmark international Højlund this season amid more injury and fitness concerns for French forward, Anthony Martial, United have been urged to dip their proverbial toe into the January transfer window this season, in the hopes of signing a striker, potentially in a loan deal.

With the likes of Serhou Guirassy of Stuttgart considered, as well as a potential deal to sign former Stoke City striker, Eric Maxim Chupo-Moting from Bayern Munich – United have been urged to pursue a deal to sign serial UEFA Champions League winner, Benzema in a swoop from Saudi Arabia.

“Listen, (Karim) Benzema, how can you say no?” Rio Ferdinand said on the FIVE YouTube channel. “We’re going back to what we’ve done before. We’ve done it with Cristiano (Ronaldo), we’ve done it with (Radamel) Falcao, we’ve done it with (Edinson) Cavani, we’ve done it with Zlatan (Ibrahimovic). Can we afford it? Probably not, that’s why I don’t see it, I’d be very surprised.”

“What I would say is that the one person that needs that [Benzema signing] more than anyone else right now, is (Ramus) Højlund,” Ferdinand explained. “He needs somebody to look and learn from.” 

Betting on football is available at a host of markets, bookies, and even casinos – with casinos even mentioned on Casino Analyser offering odds on Manchester United’s transfer activity before the close of January, as well as the immediate future of Al-Ittihad forward, Benzema.

Linked with a big-money move to Manchester United back in 2009 during his time at boyhood side, Lyon, Benzema admitted his interest in joining the Premier League side – who had just sold the above-mentioned, Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid in a then-world record transfer sum.

Electing against an expensive replacement, Manchester United signed former Liverpool striker and FIFA Ballon d’Or winner, Michael Owen a free transfer, before signing Ecuadorian winger, Antonio Valencia from Wigan Athletic as a replacement for Ronaldo on the side’s right wing.

Eventually joining Madrid alongside Ronaldo and Brazilian icon, Kaka that same summer, French forward, Benzema turned in a spectacularly goal-laden spell during his time in the Spanish capital, before following compatriot and fellow FIFA World Cup winner, N’golo Kante to Saudi Arabia earlier this season in a Pro League move to Al-Ittihad. 

The 36-year-old forward has so far played 15 times for Al-Ittihad since his move last year from  Real Madrid, finding the net on an impressive nine separate occasions for the Middle Eastern side.