Arsenal Transfer News: Karim Benzema Move Expected, Latest Gunners Rumours

Real Madrid have reportedly "decided to get rid of" long-time Arsenal target Karim Benzema in the summer.

According to Harry Pratt in the Daily Star, Los Blancos are eyeing a huge move for Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski in the summer, and Benzema will make way for the Polish ace.

Arsenal were heavily linked with the French striker last summer and would surely be interested in going in for him again should he become available, per Italian journalist Emanuele Giulianelli.

Though he has had some off-field troubles during the 2015-16 campaign, he remains one of the most effective strikers in Europe and has netted 24 goals in 26 La Liga appearances this season,
Arsenal's strike duo of Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud, meanwhile, has scored only 18 between them in the Premier League and need to add an elite-level striker in the summer—with the Frenchman potentially even Wolfsburg bound, per Bleacher Report's Dean Jones:

Benzema would unquestionably be an upgrade on Walcott and compatriot Giroud in the Gunners' front line, and it could surely work very effectively with Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.
Not only is he a very effective goalscorer, he also works brilliantly in an attacking unit and has long been a key deputy in the superlative goalscoring exploits of Cristiano Ronaldo. Benzema's La Liga assist tally over the last four seasons currently stands at 36
His arrival at the Emirates could potentially see Arsenal's goalscoring tally rise considerably, not only because he could add more goals, but he could lay more on for the likes of Ozil and Sanchez.
Arsenal have fallen short once again this season in their pursuit of the Premier League title, and they have scored the fewest goals of any side in the top four.
Benzema would bring experience of winning titles to manager Arsene Wenger's side. At just 28 years old, he still has a few years left playing at the top level and would be a brilliant addition to the Arsenal side.

 

Elsewhere, Arsenal are reportedly closing in on signing Bolton Wanderers defender Rob Holding.
Per Marc Iles in the Bolton News, interim Wanderers manager Jimmy Phillips was told by the club's hierarchy not to play the 20-year-old in the club's championship match with Fulham on Saturday, as they did not want to risk an injury scuppering a potential deal:

I was asked by the board of directors not to play him yesterday. He was in the lineup on Friday morning, but that’s as much as I know. 
It would appear some clubs are interested in him somewhere down the line. I think the wheels are still in motion on that one and it’ll be a few days before we get an outcome.

Iles added that "a bid was received on Friday" for Holding, Bolton's Player of the Season winner, and "all indications" suggest it came from Arsenal, not alternative suitors Everton.