Real covet Benzema

Real Madrid are interested in snapping up Lyon's French international striker Karim Benzema, seen here in 2007, even if the Spanish champions know the young talent will be difficult to prise away

Real Madrid are interested in snapping up Lyon's French international striker Karim Benzema, even if the Spanish champions know the young talent will be difficult to prise away, Marca sports daily reported Friday.

Marca reported back in October that the Spaniards had already expressed an interest for the 20-year-old, league top scorer in France and who last week scored a fine goal for Lyon in their Champions League draw with Manchester United.

According to the journal, Real see the youngster as the long-term successor to Dutch forward Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

But Real "are going to come up against a serious problem. Lyon want to extend his contract to 2014 and underpin it with an 'anti-Madrid' clause (which would prevent him going for less than) around 100 million euros," according to Marca.

A further complication will likely be interest from several other top European sides, including Van Nistelrooy's former side United, whose coach Sir Alex Ferguson has already admiringly noted Benzema's progress.