Karim Benzema next club odds slashed as Arsenal and Chelsea enter transfer battle

Chelsea and Arsenal have emerged as the two front-runners to sign Karim Benzema during the January transfer window.

Neither the Blues nor the Gunners have made any new additions to their squads throughout the window. Premier League clubs have until February 1 to complete any deals before the window closes.

Benzema's future with Al-Ittihad has been the subject of intense speculation throughout the month. The striker left Real Madrid last summer to complete a move to the Sadui Pro League club.

The 2022 Ballon d'Or winner has scored 12 goals in 20 appearances for Al-Ittihad since his move to Saudi Arabia. However, Benzema is already being linked with a return to Europe.

SportsLens has provided the odds for Benzema's next club, should he leave Al-Ittihad. Chelsea are listed as the favourites to sign the striker, with odds of 5/2.

Arsenal, who have been frequently linked with the signing of a striker during the January transfer window, are priced as the 3/1 second favourites. A move to a Major League Soccer club has odds of 4/1, while a transfer to a new club in the Saudi Pro League is at 7/1.

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A report from The Guardian has claimed that Lyon are in talks to sign Benzema this month. The 36-year-old began his professional career with the Ligue 1 club in France, scoring 66 goals in 148 appearances before signing for Real Madrid in 2009.

Should Benzema leave Al-Ittihad, he would not be the first player to depart from the Saudi Pro League just months after his arrival. Jordan Henderson, who left Liverpool last summer to sign a £12 million deal with