Benzema will stay at Al-Ittihad

Karim Benzema is holding further talks with Al-Ittihad this week to discuss summer plans and improve relations after a difficult January.

Both Ittihad and the wider Saudi companies want him to do another season in the Middle East.

There was never a green light (or official request from Benzema) to leave.

Lyon had explored bringing Benzema back, but it was impossible without a massive pay cut.

Ittihad sources also insist that any offer would have been rejected had it arrived.

No concrete offer from the Premier League has been made to the Saudi champions.