REAL MADRID are hoping to extend Karim Benzema’s contract beyond 2021 in the next few weeks, according to reports.
The 32-year-old has flourished in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo this season with his form leaving £62million signing Luka Jovic on the bench.
Real Madrid have reacted to Lyon’s interest in former star Karim Benzema by offering the Frenchman a new deal
The Frenchman is Los Blancos’ leading scorer, bagging 16 goals and seven assists in just 23 appearances so far this term.
According to AS, both Benzema and Madrid are looking to agree a two-year extension to his existing contract, that still runs until 2021.
The report adds that Zinedine Zidane has already given his approval to the deal as he continues to get the best out of his compatriot.
Should Benzema seal his stay at the Bernabeu it would put an end to reports linking him with a return to former club Lyon.
The striker left the club to head to Spain in a £35m deal in 2009, the same year in which Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka moved to the La Liga giants.
And in a recent interview with BeIN Sports, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulus said: “Karim may be a possibility. We talked about it with Karim Djaziri (Benzema’s agent) last year.
“During that time there have been a lot of changes at Real Madrid. He has immense talent. Furthermore he is one of the best players France has.”
Madrid meanwhile have reportedly told boss Zinedine Zidane to forget about signing Paul Pogba as it would stifle the development of Federico Valverde.
It is claimed the Uruguay central midfielder has been tipped for big things inside the Bernabeu since 2015.
And none other than Diego Forlan has predicted the same thing for the national side.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
