Man United have declined the opportunity to sign Karim Benzema over ‘exorbitant’ wage demands.
The Red Devils sit eighth in the Premier League table and have so far struggled to score goals this season.
Yesterday, it was revealed that Anthony Martial has been ruled out for 10 weeks following groin surgery, which leaves Rasmus Hojlund as their only fit recognised striker.
A potential option for Erik ten Hag was to sign French striker Benzema, who plays in the Saudi Pro League.
However, it has now been reported that United do not want to sign the 36-year-old, who is paid a whopping £86million a year, over wage demands and fears of breaching FFP rules.
Benzema moved to Saudi side Al-Ittihad in the summer on a free transfer from Real Madrid.
Despite scoring 12 goals in 20 appearances, his side sit seventh in the table after a poor run of form.
Earlier this week, Benzema was exiled from the squad after returning from holiday 17 days late.
The 2022 Ballon d’or winner incensed his current employers, who were expecting to him to report back on January 2 ahead the side’s mid-season training camp. A source close to the club told France 24 that they had been unable to reach him for 10 days.
According to Marca, as a result, Benzema has been omitted from the trip to Dubai by manager Marcelo Gallardo and continues to gear up for the league’s resumption on February 7 on his own.
News of Martial’s injury will be another concern for Ten Hag after United decided not to extend his £250,000-a-week contract.
This means the Frenchman can leave as a free agent nine years after signing from Monaco in a transfer that made him the most expensive teenager in world football.
Martial cost £36million but the deal was worth up to £58m including add-ons. The erratic forward, who had a spell on loan at Sevilla two years ago, has scored 90 goals in 317 games in a United career disrupted by injury.
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