Coming from Fabrizio Romano this morning. One-time Ballon D’or Winner Karim Benzema has finally signed a 6-month loan contract with this stunning Premier League club.

Karim Benzema is considering quitting the Saudi Pro League following a disappointing season, and sources claim he may send a warning to Premier League heavyweights Chelsea and Manchester United. His conflicts with now-former manager Nuno Espirito Santo resulted in the latter’s dismissal in November. Several Premier League teams are looking for the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner to enhance their striking options before the January transfer window ends.

Manchester United, which had a gap after Cristiano Ronaldo left, temporarily filled it by signing Wout Weghorst on loan last year. Despite fresh funding from minority stakeholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, United is facing financial problems. With only 24 goals in 21 games this season, getting Benzema is critical, especially since manager Erik ten Hag has sidelined Anthony Martial.

Chelsea, despite enormous expenditure, has yet to find a prolific striker under Mauricio Pochettino. Inconsistencies in Nicolas Jackson’s performance and setbacks in Christopher Nkunku’s fitness heighten the urgency. Armando Broja, the club’s only other well-known striker, may go if Chelsea finds a suitable replacement and matches their £50 million estimate.

Arsenal is also looking for a striker, given Ivan Toney’s expected stay at Brentford until the summer. Benzema’s loan transfer may be a plausible possibility. Al Ittihad is hesitant to lose its prized asset in the middle of the season, as Benzema’s contract is still two and a half years long.

Despite the contract, Benzema may believe he can secure a return to a major European club in the next two weeks, especially if Jordan Henderson succeeds in his contractual negotiations with Al Ettifaq prior to his move to Ajax. The situation creates an intriguing transfer scenario in the ongoing football season.