Man Utd covet Benzema as Tevez heads for exit

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has pinpointed Lyon’s French international striker Karim Benzema as his chief summer target, suggesting the European champions will let Carlos Tevez go in the summer, media reports said Sunday.

Ferguson was impressed when United came up against Benzema last season in the Champions League, the forward scoring a fine goal in the first leg in France.

Benzema last March extended his contract to 2013 but the man nicknamed BigBenz for his penchant to strike goals at just the right time is believed to be open to offers and United hope to prize him away to Old Trafford in the coming months despite competition from Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Benzema scored 20 times last season as Lyon streaked to a seventh successive League title and he has netted five times in this season’s Champions League.

France coach Raymond Domenech praised the forward on French television Sunday as “a natural” for finding the net.

Britain’s News of the World on Sunday suggested Lyon would want around 40 million pounds (45 million euros) for their man – club president Jean-Michel Aulas last year asked, albeit tongue in cheek, for 45million as well as Cristiano Ronaldo.

But United are now seemingly ready to close in on their man.

The English Premiership giants view Benzema as a better option if they are to splash the cash than paying the 32 million asking price for Argentine international Tevez.

The People reported that Tevez, who has failed to hold down a regular place with United since signing from West Ham 18 months ago, had spoken to compatriot Gabriel Heinz about a possible move to Real Madrid in the summer having last week indicated he would love to play at the Bernabeu.