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Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward met with Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema's agent earlier this week.

Woodward was seen with Karim Djaziri at The Savoy hotel in London on Wednesday evening amid reports United could lodge a £40m bid for the 27-year-old, who is on holiday in New York.

Wayne Rooney was United's lowest top scorer since Frank Stapleton in 1982 with 14 goals last season, and with Robin van Persie's future in doubt and Radamel Falcao back at Monaco, Van Gaal's only other recognisable striker is 19-year-old James Wilson.

Sir Alex Ferguson courted Benzema while he was at Lyon and even handed him a United shirt after The Reds' 1-1 draw with Lyon in 2008.

Benzema, though, joined Real the following year for £35m and United signed Michael Own instead.

Last month, Woodward was pictured with Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho at The Bulgari Hotel in Knightsbridge and two other men, however it was reported as 'a case of bumping into one another'.

France international Benzema's contract at the Bernabeu runs until 2019, although United could capitalise on the club's state of flux following the appointment of Rafael Benitez as their new manager.

United manager Louis van Gaal flew to his Portugal holiday home last week and has told Woodward which players he wants brought in this summer.

Van Gaal is determined to sign his targets before pre-season training begins next month, having seen Daley Blind and Radamel Falcao arrive on transfer deadline day last year. Argentine duo Marcos Rojo and Angel di Maria joined after the season had begun.

Van Gaal revealed after the final game of the season at Hull he knew 'which players have to go and have to come' and Benzema is regarded as a possible option up front.

Benzema could also be used as a sweetener by Real in their attempts to sign David de Gea from United.

See a timeline of De Gea's United career below

Time Line David de Gea's Manchester United career timeline September 2010 Sir Alex Ferguson and Eric Steele skip United's League Cup tie to watch Valencia against Atletico Madrid, effectively confirming De Gea as their preferred replacement for Edwin van der Sar July 2011 Having requested he be covered by a blanket as he arrived for his medical at Bridgewater Hospital, De Gea joins United for £18.9m and makes his first appearance against Chicago Fire in a July friendly August 2011 De Gea is culpable for both of City's goals on his competitive debut in the Community Shield, however United recover to win 3-2 August 2011 De Gea feebly concedes Shane Long's equaliser and is softened up during an inhospitable Premier League debut at West Brom. United win 2-1 August 2011 With United 1-0 up, De Gea saves Arsenal striker Robin van Persie's penalty in a game The Reds go on to win 8-2. He brilliantly denies Van Persie again after the pause, but is at fault for Theo Walcott's goal October 2011 Under pressure following Anders Lindegaard's impressive debut at Benfica, De Gea performs so well in a draw at Liverpool the Anfield manager Kenny Dalglish praises him December 2011 Despite a steady spell after the 6-1 humiliation against City, De Gea's unorthodox technique at Basel leads to Marcos Streller's opener, United lose and crash out of the Champions League at the group stage December 2011 Counter-productively, Ferguson rests De Gea for the wins over Fulham and Wigan either side of Christmas but restores him to the starting XI against Blackburn on New Year's Eve. De Gea is at fault for Yakubu's second and Grant Hanley's winner as United fail to go top. Ferguson outright drops the Spaniard for the first time in his United career January 2012 Lindegaard plays the next four games but De Gea is thrown in at the deep end at Anfield in the FA Cup fourth round and is blameworthy for Dirk Kuyt's late winner. Ferguson considers asking Edwin van der Sar to come out of retirement February 2012 The first turning point: Lindegaard is ruled out for at least a month with ankle ligamenet damage and De Gea returns at Chelsea. He spectacularly denies Juan Mata and tips over Gary Cahill's late goalbound effort in a frantic 3-3 draw March 2012 De Gea embarks on a phenomenal run of form, making vital saves in wins over Liverpool, Ajax, Norwich and West Brom but it is in the 3-2 Europa League defeat to Athletic Bilbao where he impresses most. Overworked, De Gea makes 11 saves, many of them spectacular April 2012 De Gea makes two crucial saves at 0-0 in United's nervy, yet seemingly significant win at Blackburn, and is warmly congratulated by coach Steele after the final whistle May 2012 A distraught De Gea reacts to Sergio Aguero's title-winning goal and the United No.1 ends his first Old Trafford season trophyless August 2012 De Gea starts his second season strongly and is one of the few United players to perform in their opening defeat at Everton. An error in the next game against Fulham, however, sees him rashly dropped by Ferguson October 2012 Lindegaard's unconvincing display in the loss to Tottenham allows De Gea to regain his place in the first XI and he proves his worth immediately with a magnificent save from Papiss Cisse December 2012 Previously vulnerable to opponents' aerial threats, De Gea performs commandingly in the derby win at City January 2013 De Gea looks to be in danger of regressing after assisting James Perch and Daniel Strrudge's goals. He then costs United a victory at Tottenham with a flimsy punch that is turned in by Clint Dempsey February 2013 Supported vociferously by the United fans housed in Fulham's Putney Road End, De Gea makes a phenomenal save from Bryan Ruiz as United leave with three vital points February 2013 De Gea proves he has put his errors behind him with a marvellous performance at Real Madrid, where he twice memorably denies Fabio Coentrao April 2013 De Gea celebrates United's Premier League title with Steele and Lindegaard following the 3-0 win over Aston Villa. His turn-around is recognised by his fellow professionals, who name him in the PFA Team of the Year June 2013 De Gea wins the Under-21 Euros for the second time with Spain August 2013 De Gea celebrates United's Community Shield win with Lindegaard and his new goalkeeping coach, Chris Woods, brought to Old Trafford by new manager David Moyes October 2013 De Gea produces a contender for save of the season from Sunderland's Emanuele Giaccherini with The Black Cats 1-0 up. United win 2-1 January 2014 De Gea drops a clanger to concede Phil Bardlsey's late extra-time goal, however United strike back and take the League Cup semi-final to spotkicks. De Gea saves two Sunderland efforts but, in a pathetic penalty shootout, United miss four of theirs and lose March 2014 With United 1-0 up but 2-1 down on aggregate against Olympiakos, De Gea pulls off a terrific save from Alejandro Dominguez with his right foot in a last 16 tie United manage to overturn May 2014 United suffer their worst season in 25 years as De Gea is deservedly named the players and fans' Player of the Year September 2014 De Gea starts his fourth United season sluggishly, conceding soft goals against Swansea, Leicester and West Ham October 2014 De Gea begins October brilliantly, becoming the first goalkeeper to deny Leighton Baines from the penalty spot in the Premier League... October 2014 Before he pulls off one of his most vivid saves to prevent Bryan Oviedo from equalising November 2014 De Gea is heroic behind a bumbling United defence in Louis van Gaal's first away win at Arsenal December 2014 De Gea is United's saviour again in the win over Stoke, thwarting Mame Biram Diouf and Marko Arnautovic late on December 2014 Despite some nervy Liverpool finishing, De Gea enjoys arguably his best performance in a United shirt as The Reds beat Brendan Rodgers' side 3-0 January 2015 With 18 months left on his United contract, De Gea sees Victor Valdes arrive on a free transfer March 2015 De Gea makes two decisive saves in United's unconvincing win at Newcastle April 2015 De Gea suffers a wobble by conceding cheap goals to Daniel Sturridge, Christian Benteke and Kevin Mirallas May 2015 United fans let out cringing cries of 'David de Gea, we want you to stay' in the defeat to West Brom May 2015 De Gea's fantastic save from Glenn Murray at 1-1 allows United to go on and beat Crystal Palace to effectively secure a Champions League play-off tie May 2015 De Gea comes off injured in the penultimate game of the season against Arsenal. It could be his last United appearance May 2015 De Gea becomes the first United player since Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award in successive years July 2015 After missing their first two Stateside games, De Gea starts in United's pre-season win over Barcelona in Santa Clara August 2015 Having transfer listed Victor Valdes and told Anders Lindegaard he has no future, Van Gaal signs free agent Sergio Romero, who played under him at AZ Alkmaar August 2015 On the eve of the first game of the season, Van Gaal drops a bombshell and confirms De Gea will not play against Tottenham. He accuses the goalkeeper of lacking 'focus' August 2015 De Gea watches United narrowly beat Tottenham 1-0 from the stands and is not considered for selection in any of their August games September 2015 Days after Sergio Romero's clanger at Swansea, Real open negotiations with United and the clubs agree a swap deal involving De Gea and Keylor Navas, plus cash. However, Real file their paperwork too late on La Liga's deadline day and De Gea is denied a return to Madrid September 2015 De Gea makes his first appearance of the season for Spain and insists he is 'happy' to continue at United September 2015 After a charm offensive, De Gea signs a new four-year United contract and thanks the supporters for their 'unconditional' support

See United fans' top transfer targets below