Karim Benzema sparks Arsenal transfer frenzy with cryptic Instagram post

Benzema, 27, has been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu this summer and Arsenal have reportedly identified him as the man to fill their vacant No. 9 shirt at Emirates Stadium.

The France international was in China with the rest of his Real Madrid team-mates ahead of their pre-season international Champions Cup tour, but posted a photo of himself on a private jet accompanied with the caption, "Leave the past to the past. #directionfuture".

Karim Djaziri, the agent of Benzema, told Sky Sports News last week that the former Lyon man "will be a Real Madrid player by the end of this transfer window, 1,000 per cent" which Gunners boss Arsene Wenger responded by joking:

"One thousand per cent is a lot! That looks quite convincing. I do not come out with names anyway. I believe we built something special last season. We want to work on that and not expect too much from outside."

Arsenal fans were quick to react to the news of Benzema potentially being on a plane to London.