Belgian international striker Christian Benteke is expected to be the final arrival at Liverpool during the summer transfer window, Sky Sports reports.
The Reds have been extremely busy in the transfer market so far as manager Brendan Rodgers looks to assemble a squad that is capable of challenging for the Champions League places this season after a disappointing 2014-15 campaign.
Benteke should complete his move to Merseyside on Wednesday after his £32.5million buy-out clause at Aston Villa was triggered by the Reds over the weekend [via Guardian Sport] and is set to be the final puzzle in the jigsaw for Rodgers, who witnessed his side struggle for goals last season following the departure of Luis Suarez to Barcelona and the numerous injury problems to Daniel Sturridge.
After missing last summer’s World Cup through injury, Benteke hit top form for Villa from February and his goals almost single-handedly saved the club from relegation and he also scored the crucial equaliser against the Reds in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley in April as the Midlands outfit upset the odds to reach the final.
That goal looks increasingly likely to be one of the last from Benteke in a Villa shirt and his arrival on Merseyside is set to conclude Rodgers’ business in the transfer market according to Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol:
“Benteke was his No 1 target. He has already signed six players this summer and there is a general feeling at the club that he will be the last,” he revealed.
“As far as Liverpool are concerned, I’ve been told they are just working on tying up that Christian Benteke deal and then as far as Brendan Rodgers is concerned he has the players that he needs for next season,” Solhekol added.
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Benteke will become the club’s seventh signing of the summer following the arrivals of James Milner, Danny Ings, Adam Bogdan, Joe Gomez, Roberto Firmino and Nathaniel Clyne.
Kop supporters have been given the chance to witness most of the new recruits during pre-season and would have been encouraged to see Milner and Ings both get on the scoresheet in the club’s 2-0 victory over A-League outfit Adelaide United on Monday morning.