Madrid Want First Option On Benzema

Real Madrid have made signing Karim Benzema from Olympique Lyonnais a priority in the summer and are working to obtain first refusal on the player.

The winter transfer window may only just have closed, but Los Merengues were always going to be focussed on bolstering their squad at the end of the season.

Benzema's form for Lyon has attracted many admirers, including Manchester United, Milan, Inter and Barcelona, all of whom are monitoring his progress.

Madrid's sporting director, Predrag Mijatovic, and technical secretary, Miguel Ángel Portugal, know that the amount of competition will see the French club drive the player's price up.

There is a line of communication open bettern Madrid and Lyon, but after the saga of Mahamadou Diarrà's move to the Spanish giants it may need some repairing.

Mijatovic and Portugal aim to persuade Lyon to sell Madrid first option and then see him remain at the club for a further two seasons before moving to the Bernabéu.

Benzema, 20, has been with Lyon since 1996 and rose through the ranks before being promoted to the first team four years ago.