Liverpool will try and persuade Aston Villa to part with Christian Benteke by offering cash plus Rickie Lambert for the Belgian striker.
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According to the Daily Mirror, we are desperate to land the 24-year-old, and are thus willing to offload the former Southampton man to make the deal happen. However, we face competition from Premier League champions Chelsea for his signature.
Benteke could become a part of a revamped front line at Anfield, that will include Divock Origi – who returns from his loan spell at Lille – and Danny Ings. The Daily Star reported that the 22-year-old will be leaving Burnley when his contract expires in the summer, and we are the favourites to sign the player.
However, should the trio arrive then it would not bode well for Lambert, who has watched his fairytale move to Merseyside turn somewhat sour after a difficult season. His total of two goals in the top flight has left the club prepared to offer him out elsewhere, with Villa, Crystal Palace, and Bournemouth interested.
But we may now concentrate our efforts on making sure that the England international is turning out for the Villains next season, and hope that his arrival does enough to persuade Tim Sherwood to let Benteke move the other way.