Real Madrid after Benzema rather than Villa

Lyon striker Karim Benzema is the latest object of desire for moneybags Real Madrid as opposed to Valencia forward David Villa, Marca sports daily reported on Wednesday.

“Nothing is impossible and if we receive a good offer we will not close the door to anyone,” Bernard Lacombe, adviser to Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas, told Marca.

The daily said Real had been mulling signing Benzema, of whom Manchester United are also admirers, in a year’s time, but changed tack given the reluctance of Valencia’s new chairman Manuel Llorente to sell them Spain striker Villa.

Real chairman Florentino Perez, who has already landed Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka this summer for huge fees, has twice met with Benzema’s agent Karim Djaziri, first in Madrid then Geneva, according to Marca.

Benzema would cost around 40 million euros or less if the deal were to include a part-exchange in the shape of either Real’s Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar or his compatriot, winger Arjen Robben.

“We take Valencia at their word and we respect their decision (not to sell Villa) and so that is why we are changing target,” Real director general Jorge Valdano said Tuesday, without naming Benzema.

Marca indicated Real also have made a combined 35 million euros offer for Liverpool’s Spanish pair Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa.

And the paper added that Real are additionally ready to swoop for Valencia defender Raul Albiol.