Rio Ferdinand told Arsenal to sign Karim Benzema. (Image: TNT SPORTS)
Rio Ferdinand stunned his TNT Sports broadcast colleagues Ally McCoist and Darren Fletcher pitchside ahead of ‘s crunch clash against with a bold transfer shout. are reportedly actively pursuing attacking reinforcements before the January deadline amid a troublesome injury crisis.
has lost , Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Jesus to lengthy injury spells in recent weeks, leaving as his only first-team striker.
The Gunners named youthful duo Ismeal Kabia and Nathan Butler-Oyedeji on the bench for Wednesday’s north London derby against .
With his side battling to stay in touch with leaders , Arteta is understandably keen to add to his options in the next two weeks.
Ahead of the mammoth clash at the Emirates Stadium, Fletcher asked McCoist and Ferdinand who they would sign if they were the Spanish boss.
McCoist replied: “They need a goal scorer. Simple. I mean, you look at Havertz and Havertz… a little bit of the stick he’s received is a little far-fetched, it really is.
“But he’s not an out-and-out goalscorer. I think Havertz is one of these players who has scored as many goals coming off the left or as a number 10 as he has as a number nine.
“It’s not rocket science. The chances that are creating, a proper out-and-out six-yard box predator will score goals.”
Karim Benzema is scoring for fun in Saudi Arabia. (Image: Getty)
“I’d go and get Osimhen. I mean, and I’ll tell you something, he’s still been scoring goals in Turkey.
“I just think at the minute, his form is not what it was 18 months ago at Napoli. But I think he can get there again.”
Ferdinand then weighed in by claiming that should launch a lucrative push for Al-Ittihad striker Karim Benzema this month.
The former defender drew a “wow” from McCoist as he told Arteta to try and sign the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner on loan.
Ferdinand said: “I’ve go and get Benzema. I’d say give me six months on loan to Benzema. Have that. fans, where are you at?”
The 37-year-old Frenchman has scored 12 goals in 13 appearances for Al-Ittihad since joining on a free transfer from Real Madrid last year.
He signed an eye-watering contract in Saudi Arabia and was expected to end his football career outside of Europe.
However, a shock approach from and the prospect of a short-term taste of a title race could tempt him to return to the continent.