Manchester United FC

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United close in on Benzema

01 Jul 2009 - 07:57:02

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Karim Benzema's Lyon team-mate Miralem Pjanic claims Manchester United are on the verge of signing the France international for £38million.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is a long-time admirer of the 21-year-old who he is particularly keen to sign now that Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez has left Old Trafford.

Ferguson has already signed Luis Antonio Valencia from Wigan Athletic but now has his sights set on landing Benzema.

Pjanic told Bosnian website Sportsport: "Benzema is nearly gone to Old Trafford.

"The English club are willing to pay £38million for him and it is just a question of the day when he will move to England.

"He does not have anything against going to Manchester. Our side will be reinforced by Lisandro Lopez, the Argentine forward from Porto."

Real Madrid and Arsenal had also been linked with Benzema, who looked set to stay at Lyon for one more season, but it now appears that Old Trafford will be his destination.