Barca management know Aulas said the same regarding Mahamadou Diarra and Michael Essien before selling them for huge money to Real Madrid and Chelsea respectively.
Benzema is Barca's No1 attacking target, ahead of Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor and Inter Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but Lyon's reluctance to sell had forced plans to move for the youngster onto the backburner.
But Barca sports director Txiki Begiristain has asked Lyon chief Bernard Lacombe to keep him up-to-speed on Benzema's situation throughout this summer's market.