Olympique Lyon strike-ace Karim Benzema is emerging as Barcelona's No1 summer transfer target.
Barca sports chief Txiki Begiristain has been following Benzema, 20, for the past four years after first spotting him at the U17 European Championships playing in a France team that also included his Lyon teammate Hatem Ben Arfa and Olympique Marseille's Samir Nasri.
Begiristain attempted - without success - to negotiate first option on Benzema during talks over the loan move to Lyon of Barca midfielder Marc Crosas this month. Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas is resigned to selling Benzema sooner rather than later, but won't accept anything less than £25 million for his star man.
