News:Alex Ferguson is to recommend to Manchester United's board that Karim Benzema, the outstanding France striker, should be their primary transfer target this summer, although he is deeply aware that not only is there competition from a clutch of Europe's leading clubs but that Lyon might price him out of the Glazer family's reach.
Benzema's performance in Wednesday's Champions League fixture at Stade de Gerland, when he scored a superb individual goal and gave Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic as torrid a time as they have endured all season, has reinforced Ferguson's belief that he must explore the possibilities of putting him alongside Carlos Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney in what might become the most feared forward line in the world.
Unfortunately for United, the secret is out and Lyon's president, Jean-Michel Aulas, has set the fee at around €60 million. When it was put to him that United might have the financial muscle to tempt away a player L'Equipehas started referring to as "L'Etoile Benzema" (the star Benzema), Aulas seemed unfazed. "Fine," he said, "they can give us the money - and we will take Cristiano Ronaldo too."
Aulus went on to claim that Benzema (20) will not leave until Lyon have won the Champions League but his remarks have been widely interpreted in France as the beginning of what promises to be a long and drawn-out transfer saga surrounding a player Jean-Pierre Papin has described as combining the qualities of the two best Brazilians of the past decade.
"His power is reminiscent of Ronaldo," the former France striker said. "The stepovers and speed at which he runs with the ball is like Ronaldinho."
Those attributes were evident against United and it is understood that the English champions will sound out Lyon after the teams have played at Old Trafford on Tuesday week. Ferguson has already done some groundwork after being invited to watch one of Lyon's games with Aulas this month and the United manager is also thought to have spoken at length with Gerard Houllier, a former Lyon manager.
Ferguson has been trying to find out about Benzema's personality and will be encouraged by the reports. "I'm optimistic for Karim because he knows what he wants and he has good people around him," said Houllier. "He reminds me a bit of Steven Gerrard - not the way he plays but because of his character and background. Karim, like Steven, will be among the world's top-50 players one day."
The class of Benzema's left-foot shot on Wednesday suggests he may already be there, and it was notable how United's defenders singled him out for praise after the game.
"Benzema is not as well known across Europe as he is in France, but Ferguson knows all about him and told us to be particularly wary of him," said Patrice Evra.
If necessary, Ferguson could use Louis Saha in a player-plus-cash exchange but he is also aware that he has to strengthen his defence, particularly at right back. Gary Neville has been out for almost a year with injury problems and Wes Brown could leave on a free transfer this summer after rejecting a new contract, a situation Ferguson has told him is "ridiculous".
Meanwhile, Uefa have been urged to investigate a laser beam incident involving Ronaldo. The winger was left dazzled before the draw against Lyon.
The French club could be subject to an investigation over one of their supporters aiming a laser at Ronaldo. Ferguson said: "We reported the matter to Uefa before the game. We noticed it in the warm-up and they (Uefa) are aware of it."
- Guardian Service
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