Anfield boss plans for the worst.
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Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is reportedly readying a formal bid for Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke in the event that Uruguayan international Luis Suarez leaves Anfield this summer.
There is growing speculation that the in-form Liverpool striker could leave after being hit by a ten match ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.
Conflicting reports suggest that the Merseyside club are ready to listen to big money offers for the former Ajax man after the latest in a long line of unsavoury incidents whilst some believe that Suarez will use the suspension as a way to force his way into a Liverpool exit, with Bayern Munich being strongly linked with the Premier League hot-shot.
Either way Rodgers is looking to plan for any eventuality that sees his squad lose it’s most effective attacking weapon.
The Northern Irishman has set his sights on Belgian Benteke accordingly and may well feel he can persuade the Aston Villa man to consider a move to Liverpool regardless of whether Paul Lambert’s side avoid relegation to the Championship.
Rodgers has seen first hand what Benteke is capable of, with the former Racing Genk man netting three goals in the two Premier League clashes between the two sides.
The powerful 22 year old forward has adapted phenomenally well to life in the English top tier, having made the step up from the decidedly average Belgian league, netting 15 goals in the Premier League and 19 in all competitions in his debut season in England.
Benteke has also impressed on national team duty, becoming the attacking spearhead of a Belgian side that has greatly impressed and is looking likely to secure a spot in the 2014 World Cup.
Regardless of whether Luis Suarez leaves Liverpool the Reds boss is apparently open to the sale of another striker, Fabio Borini, after the former Roma man’s fairly disastrous opening season with the club.
Brendan Rodgers knows the 22 year old Italian international well from previous associations with Borini whilst at Chelsea and Swansea City but things have not panned out well for the adaptable attacker and offers in or around the £10.5m paid last summer will be considered for a marksman who is still waiting for his first Premier League goal after a season marred by injury and average form.