Arsenal have targeted Karim Benzema who currently plays at Real Madrid as their top priority signing, with Arsène Wenger stating "The transfer market really starts now, a lot of activity will happen between now and 2 September. We have 12 days. a lot will happen. It starts now."
Karim Benzeman would be a welcome addition to the Arsenal team
Benzema is the latest in a string of high-profile names to be linked with Arsenal. So far this summer they have failed to attract a plethora stars including Luis Suarez, Gonazalo Higuain and Luiz Gustavo to name but a few.
Take a look at the gallery below, which shows just why it might be worth Arsenal spending a large amount of their transfer budget on the highly rated French striker.
Karim Benzema goal celebrations
Karim Benzema(01 of21)
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema from France celebrates after scoring a goal during a Copa del Rey soccer match against Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza) (credit:AP)
Real Madrid CF v Real Betis Balompie - La Liga(02 of21)
MADRID, SPAIN - AUGUST 18: Karim Benzema scores their opening goal during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Real Betis Balompie at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on August 18, 2013 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Real Madrid v Los Angeles Galaxy - International Champions Cup 2013(03 of21)
GLENDALE, AZ - AUGUST 01: Karim Benzema #9 of Real Madrid scores a goal on a header against the Los Angeles Galaxy during the second half of International Champions Cup match at University of Phoenix Stadium on August 1, 2013 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-ESP-LIGA-REAL-MADRID-OSASUNA(04 of21)
Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring during the Spanish league football match Real Madrid vs Osasuna on June 1, 2013 at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid. AFP PHOTO/ PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU (Photo credit should read PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU,PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Karim Benzema, Todd Dunivant(05 of21)
Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema (9) scores on goal as Los Angeles Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant defends during the second half of the International Champions Cup soccer match, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. Real Madrid won 3-1. (AP Photo/Matt York) (credit:AP)
Karim Benzema(06 of21)
FILE - In this March 18, 2012 file photo, Real Madrid's Karim Benzema from France celebrates his goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain. Benzema has been fined euro 18,000 ($23,400) and had his drivers license revoked for eight months for reckless driving by a Spanish court on Friday March 15, 2013. Benzema was caught driving at 216 kph (134 mph) in a speed zone of 100 kph (62 mph) in the Spanish capital on Feb. 3. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, File) (credit:AP)
Karim Benzema (07 of21)
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema from France celebrates after scoring against Valencia during their a Copa del Rey soccer match at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz) (credit:AP)
Karim Benzema(08 of21)
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema from France celebrates his goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) (credit:AP)
Karim Benzema(09 of21)
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema from France celebrates after scoring against Alcoyano during their during their Copa del Rey soccer match at the Collao stadium in Alcoy, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz) (credit:AP)
(10 of21)
Real Madrid player Marcelo, right, runs towards Karim Benzema, left, after Benzema scored 2-0 against Ajax with a bicycle kick during the Champions League Group D soccer match at ArenA stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Wednesday Oct. 3, 2012. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) (credit:AP)
(11 of21)
Real Madrid player Karim Benzema scores with a bicycle kick before Ajax player Tobias Sana, left, can stop him during the Champions League Group D soccer match at ArenA stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Wednesday Oct. 3, 2012. This goal brings the score to 2-0. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) (credit:AP)
Karim Benzema(12 of21)
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema from France celebrates his goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Rayo Vallecano at the Vallecas stadium in Madrid, Spain, Monday, Sept. 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) (credit:AP)
(13 of21)
France's Samir Nasri, foreground, and teammate Karim Benzema, celebrate after Nasri scored a goal during the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group D match between France and England in Donetsk, Ukraine, Monday, June 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) (credit:AP)
Karim Benzema(14 of21)
France's forward Karim Benzema jubilates after he scored the second goal during their friendly international soccer match, in Le Mans, western France, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. (AP Photo / David Vincent) (credit:AP)
Karim Benzema, Franck Ribery(15 of21)
France's forward Karim Benzema jubilates with teammate Franck Ribery after he scored the second goal during their friendly international soccer match, in Le Mans, western France, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. (AP Photo / David Vincent) (credit:AP)
Karim Benzema(16 of21)
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema from France celebrates after scoring during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Sporting Gijon at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, April 14, 2012. (AP Photo/Alberto Di Lolli) (credit:AP)
(17 of21)
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema reacts after scoring the third goal against APOEL during a Champions League quarterfinal soccer match at GSP stadium in Nicosia, on Tuesday, March 27, 2012. Real Madrid won 3-0. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) (credit:AP)
(18 of21)
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema reacts after scoring the opening goal of his team against APOEL during a Champions League quarterfinal soccer match at GSP stadium in Nicosia, on Tuesday, March 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) (credit:AP)
Karim Benzema(19 of21)
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema from France celebrates his goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, March 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) (credit:AP)
Karim Benzema(20 of21)
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema from France celebrates after scoring during his Spanish La Liga soccer match against Granada at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza) (credit:AP)
Karim Benzema (21 of21)
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema from France celebrates after scoring against Valencia during their La Liga soccer match at Mestalla stadium in Valencia, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011. (AP Photo/ Alberto Saiz) (credit:AP)