Benzema adds to Real Madrid's injury woes

Real Madrid have confirmed that striker Karim Benzema broke the little finger on his right hand during their 2-1 win away to Real Betis on Sunday night.

Benzema suffered the injury when he fell badly in the first half and didn't reappear at the start of the second, when he was replaced by B-team forward Cristo Gonzalez.

A statement on Real Madrid's official website says that Benzema's return to action is "pending on his recovery", but with fellow attackers Gareth Bale, Marco Asensio and Mariano Diaz all having struggled for form or fitness so far this season, rumors suggest that Benzema's injury may prompt Real Madrid to sign another striker as cover during the ongoing transfer window.

Meanwhile, Isco's situation at the club is becoming increasingly precarious due to his breakdown in relations with coach Santiago Solari.

Despite Madrid's long injury list, Isco failed to play a single minute on Sunday evening, and Los Merengues may be tempted to use the midfielder as a makeweight in any deal to bring a new striker to the club, with Inter Milan's Argentinian forward Mauro Icardi thought to be high on Madrid's shortlist.