Chelsea target Karim Benzema ‘lined up for mystery transfer outside of Europe as he tries to escape Al-Ittihad’

KARIM BENZEMA is being lined up with a move to another Saudi Arabian club, according to reports.

The striker joined Al-Ittihad in the summer, ending his 14-year stay at Real Madrid.

He penned a lucrative deal with the Saudi side and is believed to be earning £83.5million a year.

However Benzema has become unsettled at the club and has been linked with a transfer this month.

Chelsea and Manchester United registered an interest in a loan deal but finances proved a sticking point.

Benzema, 36, could still leave Al-Ittihad this month with reporting talks are underway to move the striker to a club based in Riyadh - Saudi Arabia's capital.

Former club Lyon have also shown an interest in their former star with the club languishing towards the bottom of Ligue Un.

United reportedly held talks to sign Benzema with club chiefs keen to add more experience to the frontline alongside Rasmus Hojlund.

But with Benzema one of the highest earners in world football it has proved tricky to lure him away.

The five-time Champions League winner has pushed to move however and was made to train alone earlier this month after returning to Al-Ittihad 17 days late after a holiday.

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Benzema was due to report for training on January 2 but a source close to the club claim Al-Ittihad were unable to contact him for 10 days.

He then took a further five days to return to report back for training with the club.

Benzema also deactivated his Instagram, which has 36million followers, while he holidayed in Mauritius with his ex-wife Chloe de Launay.