Liverpool transfer target Christian Benteke will reportedly miss Aston Villa’s pre-season friendly game in Portugal on Friday, as the striker waits on his move to Anfield.
The Daily Mirror does not expect the Belgian to play for Villa again, with his switch to Merseyside now believed to be imminent after the Reds met his £32.5m buyout clause.
BREAKING: Sky Sources: @LFC meet £32.5m release clause for @AVFCOfficial striker @bentekechris20. #SSNHQ
— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) July 17, 2015
According to the Mirror, Benteke was still at the Villa training camp on Thursday night, despite the widespread media speculation regarding his future. However, the 24-year-old is likely to be spared a run out against Sporting Braga and will be a Liverpool player in the near future.
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Meanwhile, the Mirror expects Rickie Lambert to be the first casualty of Benteke’s arrival at Liverpool. West Brom are the favourites to sign the 33-year-old, who is likely to slip to fifth place in the strikers pecking order as a result of our latest addition.
Lambert is currently with Brendan Rodgers’ side in Australia and a decision on his future is likely to be made at the conclusion of the tour – which runs until early August.
The former Southampton man scored twice in seven Premier League starts last season and the Mirror expects him to be following Fabio Borini and Mario Balotelli out of the Anfield exit.