Real Madrid 'to block Luka Jovic exit amid Arsenal links'

Real Madrid are reportedly not prepared to allow Luka Jovic to leave the club before the end of the January transfer window.

Having been forced to admit defeat in their pursuit of Fiorentina's Dusan Vlahovic, it is thought that Arsenal have switched their attention to Jovic, with Los Blancos thought to be open to letting the Serbia international depart on loan this winter.

However, according to Marca, Karim Benzema's hamstring issue, which he picked up against Elche last weekend, means that Jovic will now not be allowed to depart this month.

The report claims that Los Blancos head coach Carlo Ancelotti does not want to be left with Mariano Diaz as his only back-up first-team striker, so Jovic will remain at Bernabeu in January.

The 24-year-old has scored once and provided two assists in 15 appearances for Los Blancos during the 2021-22 campaign, with his only goal coming in La Liga back in October.

Jovic still has three-and-a-half years left to run on his contract at Bernabeu, having penned a six-year agreement upon his arrival in July 2019.