Liverpool striker Christian Benteke has revealed that he may move on for the good of his career this summer if he doesn’t feature in Jurgen Klopp’s plans.
The Belgian international will hope to play an important role for Marc Wilmots’ side in France in the coming weeks, although it hasn’t entirely distracted him from his club woes.
Since joining from Aston Villa last summer, signing a five-year deal, Benteke has struggled to make the impact expected of him at Anfield, which in turn has led to suggestions that he could be forced to move on.
Although he wants to make his time at Liverpool a success, he knows better than anyone that if he doesn’t fit into Klopp’s plans, then perhaps it’s best for both parties to split.
“At 25 years old, I’m neither old nor young but it’s important to play,” Benteke said at Belgium’s news conference.
“I still have a contract at Liverpool and I’d like to stay there, if I remain in the coach’s plans.
“If that’s not the case, it will become difficult to stay. I’ll think about if after the Euros.
“When he [Klopp] arrived, I saw that I wasn’t in his plans. That was frustrating because I knew that during my first season at Aston Villa he wanted me.
“But we had several discussions together — I respect and I understand his decisions.”
Having made 42 appearances in all competitions last season, Benteke was able to find the back of the net on just 10 occasions as he struggled for form.
Given the influence he had at Villa in a system that made the most of his strengths, it is hoped that Benteke finds a team that is a better fit moving forward if he does indeed leave Liverpool this summer.
While it will be a disappointment to leave Anfield in the current circumstances, he makes a valid point in terms of it being important for him to be playing regularly at this stage of his career, and he certainly can’t afford to see his career stall for another year.