Liverpool are on the brink of signing Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke – which could become Brendan Rodgers’ seventh signing of the summer window – according to an Anfield insider.
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Done deal: Liverpool confirm signing of Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne
Graham Beecroft, talkSPORT’s Merseyside expert, claims that the Reds are very close to announcing that a deal has been reached with Tim Sherwood for the sale of his star striker.
“My understanding is Christian Benteke, who has been on their radar for some time, is very close indeed to signing for Liverpool,” Beecroft told talkSPORT.
“I expect him to sign, if not today, then certainly in the not too distant future. Liverpool have done their work and have sealed a deal [with Aston Villa].”
Benteke’s potential arrival at Anfield could mark the seventh addition to Rodgers’ first-team, as Liverpool announced that Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne had followed James Milner, Danny Ings, Adam Bogdan, Joe Gomez and Roberto Firmino in signing for the club.
The Belgium international, while boasting an impressive goal tally since arriving in the Premier League – having scored 42 goals in 88 appearances at Villa Park – has a sizeable release-clause of £32.5m [via Sky Sports]. For a player with minimal established experience across Europe, this is certainly a hefty price the Reds could be paying – if reports prove correct.
Liverpool have also been linked to Olympique Lyonnais’ Alexandre Lacazette. The Frenchman is rumoured to be available at £21m this summer [via the Liverpool Echo], and with his goalscoring form of 27 goals in 33 Ligue 1 appearances helping to fire Lyon into next season’s Champions League, such a marquee signing could arouse much excitement with the Anfield faithful.
Benteke, on the other hand, perhaps not.