Liverpool transfers: £32.5m striker target demands summer exit

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Anfield target wants to leave Aston Villa.

Aston Villa forward Christian Benteke will tell his Villa Park employers that he wants a summer exit according to the Guardian.

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The 24-year-old has spent three seasons at Aston Villa and is ready to move on and Liverpool are known to be keen on the Belgian international (Via the Daily Express).

However Aston Villa have no intention of selling Benteke for a fee less than his £32.5m release clause according to the Guardian.

Benteke enjoyed a superb debut season in the English top tier, bagging 23 goals in all competitions, and then experienced something of a down-turn in form over the next 18 months.

The arrival of Tim Sherwood in February saw Benteke once again in among the goals, the powerful marksman scoring 11 times in his last dozen games of the 2014/15 campaign to help guide Aston Villa clear of the relegation zone.

The Guardian state that Liverpool are unwilling to stump up the cash needed to trigger Benteke’s release clause which could leave the potential transfer at something of an impasse.

Brendan Rodgers watched his attacking options misfire in a big way in 2014/15.

Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini managed just four Premier League goals between them last season whilst Daniel Sturridge was ruled out for much of the campaign through injury.

Liverpool have moved to resolve this issue by sealing the signings of Danny Ings and Roberto Firmino from Burnley and Hoffenheim respectively.

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