Benzema set to snub United

Lyon ace would reject any possible summer move to Old Trafford

Last updated: 17th February 2008

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Karim Benzema claims he would reject a possible summer move to Manchester United because he wants to win the UEFA Champions League with Lyon.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been linked with a bid for the French international striker at the end of the season as he bids to bolster his attacking ranks.

Ferguson currently has limited attacking options with only Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Louis Saha recognised as experienced strikers in the United squad.

And Ferguson - who has also been linked with a move for Benzema's Lyon team-mate Hatem Ben Arfa - is understood to be on the look-out for attacking reinforcements.

Snub

However, Benzema - who is the current top scorer in Ligue 1 with 16 goals - insists he would snub any possible switch to Old Trafford.

"A move to United wouldn't be right for me at this time," Benzema told the News of the World.

"I have said I wouldn't leave Lyon until we've won the Champions League and I have no intention of trying to go too quickly."

Lyon face Untied in the last 16 of this season's Champions League as Ferguson takes his side to the Stade de Gerland for the first leg on Wednesday for a match which can be seen live on Sky Sports 1.

Scouting mission

Ferguson was recently spotted at Lyon to watch the match with Sochaux and it was claimed that transfer discussions were held with the French champions' president Jean Aulas.

However Ferguson insists it was simply a scouting mission ahead of next week's Champions League clash.

"The hospitality at Lyon was excellent - particularly the wine," Ferguson added in the Daily Star. "But I'm sure we did not discuss any players."