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Arsenal are reportedly preparing to launch a £70million raid on Real Madrid for Karim Benzema, Mesut Ozil and Angel Di Maria.

Karim Benzema

 Arsenal have been linked with a number of top names in recent weeks but only young striker Yaya Sanogo and Mathieu Flamini have arrived at Emirates Stadium so far this summer.

Mesut Ozil

The transfer window closes on Monday night at 23:00 BST and manager Arsene Wenger has said he remains optimistic about Arsenal's chances of strengthening their squad before the transfer deadline, and according to the Daily Mail, the Gunners are ready to splash the cash for Benzema, Ozil and Di Maria in the next 48 hours.

Di Maria

Arsenal are said to have opened talks with Real officials over the triple swoop, with the Spanish giants thought to be ready to offload several of their players - but only once Gareth Bale's £80m move from Tottenham is finalised, which may not be until Monday.

Bale has already agreed personal terms on a six-year deal with Los Blancos, but as of Saturday afternoon, the big-money transfer was yet to be completed.

Wenger has in recent days failed with a £10million bid for Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye, and has also confirmed his interest in Chelsea playmaker Juan Mata.

And while the Frenchman is adamant he will not dissapoint fans in the transfer market, he has refused to be drawn on specific targets ahead of Monday night's transfer deadline.

"I will not give you any names because I think it would be unfair for the players and create some wrong hopes," Wenger told reporters.

"You can see that many of the disputes you have all over the country are because managers speak about players. In our job it's just - be discrete and try to make things happen, that's what we try to do.

"We have not a fixed number [of targets], I just think we are a bit short at the moment. The most important thing is to focus on the quality of the squad we have and to play the football we want to play.

"You can come back to me and say 'yes, but you don't make things happen' but still most important is what happens on the football pitch. The rest? We work very hard on it."

"I still am optimistic and I hope I will not disappoint you."

CrunchSports