According to reports from The Daily Star this morning, Liverpool are preparing a £100k per-week contract offer for Aston Villa star Christian Benteke.
The Belgium international has been in phenomenal form since Tim Sherwood took the Villa Park reins from Paul Lambert in February, going on to net eleven goals in ten appearances across all competitions. That brings his tally for the campaign to 15 in 32, and his overall return for the Birmingham outfit to 46 goals in 99 outings.
Sherwood recently admitted the 24 year-old could force a move away from Villa Park this summer, with just two seasons remaining on his current contract – as This Is Futbol revealed last month.
That lead the tabloids to report a £30million valuation, whilst also mooting Liverpool and Manchester United as the 6 foot 3 striker’s likeliest suitors – as revealed by This Is Futbol – with both clubs expected to reshuffle their strike-forces this summer. He’s been billed as a potential replacement for Robin van Persie at Old Trafford – who The Guardian believe will be sold in the coming transfer window.
But according to The Star, the Anfield outfit are hoping to beat their bitter rivals with a £100k per-week contract offer, doubling his current deal with the Villains. They can also offer him guaranteed first team football – but at Old Trafford, Benteke would likely have to play second fiddle to Wayne Rooney.
ynwa# after the sales of suarez beginning the show down of our team, we need a experience player this summer, including experience coach. liverpool is too big for brendan rodgers
Jesus Murphy, I didn’t realise how young Benteke still is – he’s only a month older than I am!
Not entirely sure why Liverpool would be interested in Benteke. Clearly he’s an effective goalscorer and a huge physical presence but after the nightmare they had fitting Balotelli into the side (who is a fairly similar player – more naturally talented but apparently less motivated) it seems a bit counter-intuitive. Surely they want someone who will press more effectively rather than offer the long ball option?
Considering they’ve scored the fewest goals out of the top seven this season, and the fact that I read on ThisisFutbol that he might be leaving Chelsea, they could do a lot worse than Loic Rémy!
Loic Remy’s a decent shout but overall, Liverpool will struggle to sign a top class forward this summer – which is why I think they could bid for Benteke.
Everybody wants one but not that many are realistically available without paying over the odds. Higuain, Lacazette, Carlos Bacca, Cavani and Dybala are the names doing the rounds in the tabloids, but I can’t see Liverpool signing any of them without Champions League football.
Benteke may not be the perfect fit but he’s at the very least well proven in the Premier League and unlike a) Balotelli, who tried (briefly) to be a target man and b) Rickie Lambert, he’s far more mobile and better at link-up play. He’ll struggle to press high but I think Rodgers wants another partnership – him and Sturridge would be a quality little-n-large, strong-n-speedy duo.
Dont believe the press with the 30 million price tag as it will take alot more than that. If Liverpool dont think he is worth more then they wont pay it, I dont think Villa are that desperate to sell him and the Player is under contract until 2017 giving them at least one season to get a return. And if you want to point to a player revolution to force the issue ill point you to spurs who tried and failed with the same tactic. Benteke will likely remain at Villa because no club will meet the high valuation. He will be more prolific next year and that tag is only going to go up. Dont underestimate Villa they will want top dollar for a player who is far more prolific and consistant than the likes of Carol who was purchased for how much?
That’s true, they would be a very good two-man partnership (assuming Sturridge is fit), although Walcott would be quite a good ‘backup but so often starting because of injury that he is basically in the first XI’. (Quite enjoying another example at Leicester too – Ulloa and Vardy)
Benteke is definitely a good striker, and I suppose Sturridge and (assuming he signs) Walcott’s ability to play wide allows them to deviate from consistently playing two up front. Lambert was a ridiculous signing though, what were they honestly expecting?
I think you are right that Liverpool’s transfer activity will be hamstrung by their lack of CL football; I suppose their only options are signing players from teams who seem like the Europa is a glass ceiling, from bottom-half teams (e.g. Ings), or who have fallen out of favour at bigger teams (e.g. Jovetic). Out of the box ideas: Michu?
I suppose my concerns about Benteke are all based on the assumption that Rodgers will still be there next season, which isn’t a certainty. If Klopp was Liverpool manager next year he would have no problem working with Benteke.
P.S. I just remembered they signed Origi – surely he won’t be first choice? Never been impressed with him at all…
I do think Liverpool are going to have to make serious improvements if they’re gonna get into the top 4 next season though. Losing their best forward (again) is a pretty bad start.