Liverpool’s owners Fenway Sports Group are currently enquiring over the availability of Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke, who could cost up to £20m, as the club draw up their transfer wish list.
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According to the Independent, Brendan Rodgers’ position at Anfield is safe and, with the season having ended, their attentions are now focused on who they want to sign in the summer transfer window.
Benteke, who has almost single-handedly fired Villa to Premier League safety through his fine goalscoring form under Tim Sherwood, is a top target for the club.
Fenway Sports Group, the Reds’ American owners, are said to have made contact with Aston Villa over Benteke, and could follow up their discussions with an official bid. With two years remaining on his contract, he could cost in excess of £20m.
The Belgium international has scored 13 domestic goals all season – far from the prolific goalscorer that Liverpool need – but 11 of those finishes have come since March, suggesting that he may have finally rediscovered his form and confidence which took a hit following a long-term injury suffered before the 2014 World Cup. In the end, those 13 goals were 42% of Villa’s total of 31 for the season – illustrating just how dour the club were to watch under Paul Lambert.
The Merseyside club are also hopeful of landing Burnley forward Danny Ings and Manchester City midfielder James Milner, both free agents, but the report suggests that a deal for either player isn’t close to being completed.