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Karim Benzema HAS been offered to Arsenal as part of a sensational shake-up at Real Madrid.

Benzema, Angel Di Maria and Mesut Ozil are all surplus to requirements at Real Madrid as the Spanish giants look to fund both a world-record deal for Spurs' Gareth Bale and a £42million bid for Luis Suarez of Liverpool.

It is understood the Gunners are interested in ALL three Real players.

However, as revealed by the Mirror, Benzema is top of their wanted list because the signing of a world-class striker remains their No1 priority.

France international Benzema, 25, does not want to leave Madrid though, and his agent Karim Djaziri has even claimed he is not interested in a move to Arsenal.

But the Spanish giants are trying to sell him behind his back before the window shuts next Monday night.

Third parties have been hawking the trio around the Premier League - Mirror Sport understands Manchester United have also been sounded out over Benzema... and turned him down.

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United have also been sounded out about Ozil and Di Maria.

Real could potentially raise £100m by selling the trio, which would pay for Bale and also part-finance a move for Suarez, although their valuation of the Uruguayan striker - on whom Arsenal are STILL keeping tabs - is well short of Liverpool's.

Arsenal are closest to a deal for Argentina winger Di Maria, but must persuade him to move to London.

Di Maria is reluctant to leave Madrid which will also be the sticking point over Benzema.

Benzema is desperate for a new contract at Real and has a strong relationship with club president Florentino Perez, but it is clear that they may end up seeing him as being surplus requirements.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is a long-term admirer of Ozil - he tried to sign the Germany midfielder before he moved to Madrid - and the Gunners are watching developments closely.

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Arsenal would not buy all three players, but are keeping a very close eye as they are seemingly all available.

Elsewhere, the Londoners have held further talks about French midfielder Yohan Cabaye but are unlikely to match Newcastle's £20m price-tag for a player Paris Saint-Germain are also keen on.

Former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini, now a free agent, will re-sign for the club, after his agent Darren Dein held lengthy talks on Monday.

Wenger admits Arsenal need numbers as much as they need quality, but they may have to wait until the very end of the transfer window to land the top class striker they have been after all summer.

He said: "We have not got a fixed number. I just think we're a bit short at the moment. The most important thing is to focus on the quality of the squad I have and to play the football we want to play.

"I'm guided by my conscience to do my best for this club, and by my desire to play a good quality of football here.

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"It is not just about additions. The key is about making the right additions. Attitude, focus, the mental aspect in the modern game is vital.

"I will not give you any names because it would be unfair on the players who play at the clubs. It might create some wrong hopes.

"You could see that many of the disputes all over the country are because the coaches or managers speak about the players.

"[So we will] Be discreet in our job and try to make things happen."

With less than a week to go until the transfer window shuts, time is running out for Wenger to recruit.

But we've given him a helping hand by identifying six players he could still buy to save Arsenal's season.

And here's John with the latest on the story: