Lyon forward Miralem Pjanic believes team-mate Karim Benzema is close to completing a £38m move to Manchester United.
The 21-year-old French striker has been linked with a number of clubs, but Bosnia international Pjanic says United are leading the race to sign his colleague.
“Benzema is nearly gone to Old Trafford,” Pjanic told Bosnian website Sportsport. “The English club are willing to pay ¬45m (£38m) for him and it is just a question of the day when he will move to England.
“He does not have anything against going to Manchester. Our side will be reinforced by Lisandro Lopez, the Argentine forward from Porto.”
Benzema, who has scored 43 goals in 112 league outings for Lyon and has already experienced Champions League football with the French outfit.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is believed to have been handed £100m to spend in the transfer window, following the £80m sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid and the departure of striker Carlos Tevez.
United completed a £16m deal to sign Wigan Athletic winger Antonio Valencia on Tuesday and are now out to sign a forward.
Lyon coach Claude Puel has admitted Benzema would be sold if the striker wished to do so and the bid was high enough.
“We know his importance at Olympique Lyonnais and his efficiency in our squad,” Puel said on Tuesday. “He’s an exceptional player, but we also know the financial figures of the club.
“We will evaluate the situation with him when he comes back – July 2 – what he wants to do, we’ll listen to him.
“If he has any dreams of leaving we will discuss them with him if there are any concrete offers, which is not the case at the moment.”
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