Chelsea compete for Lyon duo

Chelsea are linked to Lyon`s striker, Karim Benzema and winger Hatem Ben Arfa. The problem is that they will face competition from Barça, Arsenal and Manchester United.

Lyon have a capacity to sell their key players and then grow new ones. When Michael Essien left for Chelsea, he was replaced in central midfield by Mamadou Diarra. Diarra lasted one season before Madrid picked him off. Then Lyon sold their winger, Florent Malouda, to Chelsea.

Lyon`s strikeforce has been replaced by a deadly duo, Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa, who have exploded into the French national team. They have also attracted the coveted glances of clubs even bigger than Lyon.

Inevitably, since the pair are French, Arsenal have been linked. The Spanish giants also; Barça and Real Madrid are looking for their next galactico signings. When it comes to throwing money around, Chelsea certainly don`t need very much invitation, they are on the list.

The trouble is that all these people will be dealing with Lyon`s mentalist president, Jean-Michel Aulas, the man who redefines hardball negotiating.

It would appear that Manchester United are trying to steal a march on everyone else, and have tabled an offer, says the Spanish press (who are disappointed that Manchester United have barged past Barça). Apparently Manchester United`s offer is for €60 million for the pair, or a healthy £40 million.

Aulas has helpfully confirmed the contacts with Manchester United. He also stated (in the Sun) that 'Benzema and Ben Arfa won`t be leaving Lyon for the next two years. We want to build our future with them." He then added that "if Ferguson wants to swap Cristiano Ronaldo for Ben Arfa, we could talk about that, but they will have to give us some money as well".

As well as looking forward to another long-running transfer saga involving Lyon, we have to admit that, should Chelsea really be interested, they could face a level of competition that we simply can`t overcome. Certainly the pair are sensational, helping Lyon to where they are now, i.e. cruising to a 7th successive Ligue 1 title. They have also both been called up for France in the last 12 months (Ben Arfa refusing an offer to play for Tunisia instead). The pair are both 20, and have a huge future ahead of them.

It will take some serious money to prise the pair away from Lyon. As well as the usual battle when it comes to negotiating with Aulas, the pair are just about the hottest prospects in European football right now.

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