Manchester United target Karim Benzema as Carlos Tevez replacement

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been linked with a move for Lyon striker Karim Benzema in the summer as a replacement for Carlos Tevez.

• Tevez’s future at Old Trafford has been hanging in the balance for much of the season, with contract talks continuing to stall, and it now seems that with Ferguson’s attentions diverting towards the 21-year-old French international, the Argentine’s days could be numbered.
• Benzema made a lasting impression on Ferguson when the two clubs met in last season’s Champions League, and he has not denied wanting to leave the French side.
• According to the News of the World, Lyon’s price tag of £40 million would total United’s reported budget for the summer, but with Tevez’s valuation standing at £32m, United would raise the bulk of the necessary cash by offloading the former West Ham striker.
• Benzema, who is currently averaging a goal every other game, has attracted a large amount of interest from other European clubs this season, and Ferguson will face tough competition from Barcelona and Real Madrid.
• The advantage United have is that the young Frenchman has expressly said he wants to play in the Premier League, and has apparently handed his club a transfer request.
• United and Lyon have fallen out over Benzema in the past after Ferguson expressed an interest in signing him 12 months ago.
• At the time, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas accused the club of distracting his player and quashed any chance of negotiations when he said: “Give us £45 million and Cristiano Ronaldo and you can have him.”

• United have so far baulked at paying the asking price for Tevez, who is nearing the end his a two-year loan deal.
• Ferguson has not denied that interest is coming in for the 24-year-old, with Real Madrid said to be the front runners.
• Excited by the prospect of a move to Spain, Tevez said: “Who wouldn’t want to play for Real Madrid? Like Manchester, they are one of the best clubs in the world – and it would be a pleasure to play for them.
• “(But) if I have to quit the club, I want to quit on good terms.”