Arsenal working on deals for Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema and Angel Di Maria

http://youtu.be/YgQDcgsWQR0?t=2m30s

Arsenal are plotting a double-swoop on Real Madrid to sign Karim Benzema and Angel Di Maria.

The Gunners are ready to draw a line under a frustrating period of transfer activity with big-money moves for the two marquee signings. And they aim to shake-off their reputation for thriftiness by spending £100m before the transfer window closes, according to reports.

Around £40m of that would be spent on Benezema. The 25-year-old France international striker arrived at the Bernabeu from Lyon in 2009, but his face has never quite fit at the club.

Arsene Wenger is a big fan and is ready to blow his budget for a new forward on Benzema, having missed out on Gonzalo Higuain and Luis Suarez.

Asked about the Suarez deal still happening, he said: “Absolutely no chance of that.”

Left winger Di Maria joined Real from Benfica in 2010. He had been touted for a move to Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham as part of the Gareth Bale transfer but that now looks unlikely.

He is likely to command a transfer fee in the region of £20m.

Wenger is also said to be interested in adding a defender and a goalkeeper to his squad.

Of his spending plans, he said: “People don’t understand that it’s just really starting now.”