Joe Cole has given Chelsea the green light to go out and sign Karim Benzema before the January transfer window slams shut. The 36-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge recently as Mauricio Pochettino hopes to further bolster his frontline.
Benzema, who left Real Madrid to join Al-Ittihad in the summer, has featured 15 times in the Saudi Pro League this season, scoring nine goals and providing five assists. After just six months at his new club, widespread reports claimed the France international faced an uncertain future in the Middle East and that his impressive performances could secure him a return flight to Europe.
The Frenchman's lawyer has since ruled out a potential move this month. Hugues Vigier claimed that he's not spoken to Benzema about leaving Saudi Arabia, but conceded that he would like to see his client return to Olympique Lyonnais one day.
For now, it remains to be seen whether the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner will one day grace the Premier League – but that hasn't stopped Cole, or the Chelsea fanbase, from dreaming of some deadline day drama. The former Blues midfielder believes that Benzema could be the perfect 'stop-gap striker' for Pochettino.
Speaking on behalf of TNT Sports, who will show the Premier League's midweek fixtures this week, Cole said: «I think it's a good idea because you've got this model where you're buying young players and they're assets and you can grow them together.
»But having a stop-gap striker before you can get in someone you can really level at – Benzema is a top, top level striker still so that would be fantastic. It would be great for the league, to see him in the league.
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