January 12, 2009
Posted: 1238 GMT

Stay up to date with all the comings and goings in the transfer window with CNN.com's daily wrap of the latest rumors and gossip from Europe's sports pages.

Karim Benzema is reported to be attracting interest at Manchester United.
Karim Benzema is reported to be attracting interest at Manchester United.

LONDON, England – Poor Carlos Tevez. The Argentine striker has led something of a nomadic existence for the past three seasons as successive managers have struggled to work out where to play him. But it looks like Manchester United has finally lost their patience according to reports in France and England.

After Tevez's ill judged comments last week – criticizing Manchester United for not making his loan deal permanent – manager Sir Alex Ferguson has reportedly started sending covetous glances towards Lyon and their young French striker Karim Benzema if L'Equipe, News of the World and, well, pretty much every other newspaper in Europe are to be believed.

It will take £40 ($59.79) million to land Lyon's most valuable asset. But Benzema himself, as reported by La Gazzetta Dello Sport, seems to be a little confused as to where he actually wants to go. "Milan make me dream. I also love Juve, Inter and Manchester United – the big clubs. What's important is to win." Real Madrid seems to be the most likely destination for the unloved Tevez.

L'Equipe's other big story is news that Lyon's distinctly un-Brazilian sounding Fred may well move back home, to Fluminense, for a mere £4.5 ($6.7) million, which would end Tottenham Hotspur's interest in the striker.

Elsewhere, the award for the second most blatant come-and-get-me-plea of the transfer window – Benzema takes the gold – goes to Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery. According to Bild, Ribery is openly flirting with Real Madrid. "I have four years on my contract here. But to promise? That is difficult," said the French winger, who is only in his second season at the German champions. "I am open to everything!" Who said loyalty in football is dead, eh?

Finally you can't have a transfer blog without reporting the crazy goings on over at Manchester City, who seem to be upsetting pretty much everyone by swinging around their huge sack of cash. Aside from the usual news (an improved bid for Craig Bellamy; a failed bid for Roque Santa Cruz, yawn) Marca has gleefully reported that pivotal Barcelona midfield Yaya Toure has had his head turned by a £6 ($8.96) million a year offer. But the big transfer story of the window seems to be shaping up in Russia with City and Arsenal engaging in a tug of love over Zenit St Petersburg's baby-faced midfielder Andrei Arshavin. According to the Sunday Mirror, a bid of £18 ($26.87) million has been lodged by City whilst Arsenal, allegedly Ashavin's club of choice, can only cough up a paltry £10 ($14.93) million. Arsenal will have to break their own transfer record if they want to get their man.

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Filed under: Transfer Window


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Benbacha   January 12th, 2009 1627 GMT

I think this is good.

Godfrey O Evwaraye   January 12th, 2009 1825 GMT

I am yet to see a bid for Bezema.Please!!! Leave Carlos T alone!

pepe   January 13th, 2009 1913 GMT

I think Manchester should go in for Benzema, he would be lethal as an attacking force

Jeffrey Leong   January 14th, 2009 1205 GMT

Carlos is great for MU kind of play, but with the presences of the other two MU strikers, he will only be used occasionally. Therefore, his price is too high for MU to pay.

Until Bezema is purchased, it is best to keep him in MU. Whatever the media can report, Carlos loves to stay with MU – in my opinion. No other team in the world can give him the enviroment and fans that he has now in MU

kunle fakolujo   January 14th, 2009 1410 GMT

benny is going to be a very big hit.we are all waitin for him to set the league on fire.

Felix Edor-Usiwo   January 15th, 2009 1222 GMT

Tevez is as important as Rooney in MANU and should be left alone; though the addition of Benzema will be good news.

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