Christian Benteke is set to become Liverpool’s eighth striker, after the Reds met his £32.5m buyout clause on Thursday in order to secure his release from Aston Villa (via BBC Sport).
The Belgian’s arrival, combined with that of Danny Ings, has left us with an incredible eight strikers vying for a shot at our first-team – something which will surely have to change before the transfer window closes.
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In the list below we analyse the prospects of each of our current players and discuss where they’ll be playing their football come the end of August…
Mario Balotelli
Having joined the Reds from AC Milan last summer, Luis Suarez’s emergency replacement proved to be anything but a successful gamble. He managed just one Premier League goal, although injury problems did restrict him to just sixteen appearances in the competitions. He’s been linked with a return to his native Italy this summer, but reports in the country suggest that this isn’t going to happen. If we find a buyer then he’ll surely go next month.
Verdict? Sell.
Christian Benteke
Liverpool haven’t got the best record with target men strikers, with Emile Heskey and Peter Crouch the best of a bad bunch in the Premier League era. The pressure is going to be on Benteke to produce as well, considering the amount of money that is going to be spent to acquire his services. He scored 15 in all competitions last season and he averages on in two for Villa, a respectable record for a struggling side. He’ll start the year as our first choice, especially with Daniel Sturridge still injured.
Verdict? Keep (obviously).
Fabio Borini
One of Brendan Rodgers’ first signings at Liverpool. He’s struggled to take his chances – which haven’t come often – and he’s only scored two Premier League goals for us since joining in 2012. He was left out of the tour squad this summer, which indicates his future with the club is at an end, although as with Balotelli his future could be dependent on whether we can find a buyer. If we can’t, then another loan move is surely a possibility – but we should do all we can to offload permanently.
Verdict? Sell.
Danny Ings
Ings netted 11 goals for Burnley last season, despite the Clarets being relegated back to the Championship at the first time of asking. He’s looked decent in the first couple of pre-season games – with a good work-rate and promising movement – but he needs to sort out his finishing if he’s going to feature on a regular basis for us next season. With Sturridge out injured, he might get a few chances early on, and he must make sure he takes them.
Verdict: Keep.
Rickie Lambert
A surprise inclusion on our pre-season tour, starting the first game against the Thai All-Stars and appearing as a substitute against Brisbane Roar. We know what we’re going to get with the veteran England man, and Rodgers seems to prefer him to Balotelli and Borini. However, West Brom are believed to be among the clubs interested in signing him (via The Guardian) and we expect him to be on his way out as soon as the Benteke deal is completed.
Verdict? Sell.
Divock Origi
Origi looked good against the All-Stars, scoring on debut, but was far quieter against the stronger opposition Brisbane provided. However, the Belgian has played out wide in the past and the arrival of his compatriot could ensure that he’s reduced to a similar role. He probably remains behind Ings in the pecking order at this stage, although like the Englishman he’ll get a few chances while Sturridge remains on the sidelines through injury.
Verdict? Keep.
Jerome Sinclair
You have to feel sorry for the youngster. He’s been banging in the goals for the Under-21s for a couple of years and after making his Premier League bow at the end of last season he must have been hoping that he’d get the chance to push on again this season. However, two new players have come in, and the teenager is likely to be on the way out – at least on loan, although perhaps permanently if his exclusion from the tour squad is anything to go by.
Verdict? Loan.
Daniel Sturridge
Sturridge could find his route back into the team a lot harder this time around. Last season, he needed to be rushed back to help a team struggling for goals in the absence of Luis Suarez. However, if Benteke, Ings and Origi get things right in the first couple of months then the England man is going to have to fit in where he can. He’s been played out wide in the past and that might be a way to accommodate both him and the giant Belgian.
Verdict? Keep.
