Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema reportedly considered joining Arsenal in the summer.

The France international is believed to have been a top target for the Gunners, but in the end, the Premier League club's transfer activity was limited to the signing of Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Earlier this month, Benzema claimed that he never thought about leaving the Bernabeu in the summer window, but according to El Confidencial, the 27-year-old did flirt with the idea of joining the Gunners.

Is it believed that Arsenal held talks with Madrid regarding a £40m bid for Benzema, but the move never materialised.