20 May 2015

Barnes: £30m goal-machine will be a 'great signing for Liverpool'. Done deal this summer?

The Christian Benteke bandwagon just keeps on rolling, and with Belgian striker reportedly 'keen' to join Liverpool, John Barnes is the latest Reds legend to urge the club to sign the powerful attacker this summer.

Speaking to TalkSport on Tuesday, Barnes insisted that £30m-rated Benteke 'would be a great signing for Liverpool', and explained why he'd fit in at Anfield:

"Liverpool have lacked presence up front. With Benteke, as well as playing fluent football , they would also have the option of being a bit more direct. I would be excited about that if he comes.”

Barnes joins a growing list of Ex-Reds who want Liverpool to sign Benteke:

* Dietmar Hamann: "Benteke [is] top of my list. He's the best Liverpooll can get. The fella is awesome. [I've] never seen [Martin] Skrtel bullied by someone like he did at Wembley. He's a monster [and a] goal machine. A perfect fit."

* John Aldridge: "He [Benteke] is a proven performer and a real handful leading the line. He might not be a typical Rodgers type of player, but I think he would be great for Liverpool"

* Stan Collymore: Benteke can become a great European central striker, he’s a potential European superstar. Over the next four of five years Villa need to build a team around him.”

* Jamie Carragher: “He [Benteke] has been a brilliant player for Villa but they’ve always been fighting relegation when he’s been there and he’s always been the one who’s dragged them out".

* Steve Nicol: "Had they signed a striker like Benteke, who gives you a different sort of option, but who can also play the game, then that would have been a great move".

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is also a fan, and in a recent press conference, he raved: "[Christian] Benteke is one of the very top players at this level. He makes great runs and scores goals, and he caused us lots of problems."



Liverpool fans don't share all this enthusiasm, though. Earlier this month, I ran a poll on the site asking fans if LFC should sign Benteke:

* 58% of participants voted NO to Benteke signing for Liverpool.

 photo Screen Shot 2015-05-12 at 21.35.45_zpsoq8eat8l.png

Everyone seems to want Benteke, and hopefully, if the Reds sign him, it won't end being a case of 'be careful what you wish for'. The big Belgian seems to have all the attributes needed to make it at Anfield, but knowing Liverpool's luck with strikers, he'll probably end up being a massive flop.

Or, taking a more positive view, with 62 goals/assists in 99 apps, it's likely that Benteke will be a hit at Anfield, especially playing alongside (arguably) superior players.

Author: Jaimie K


60 comments:

  1. Rodgers is personally interested in Mario Mandzukic. Any comments?

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  2. We should make it known that we're after some real average players so they will end up at Spurs- wait a minute-----

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  3. Rodgers isn't going to quit though.

    He's still got years left on his deal, and if he quit, I imagine there has to be some sort of "show clause" preventing him from getting work for a period of time.


    The only way Rodgers goes is if he is fired, and if that's the case, FSG would have most likely pay him his remaining contractual salary.

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  4. False... he simply provides the direction of the footballs. East, west, north south is usually the standard

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  5. The Eredivise is broadcast across the globe, so I doubt that most people have 'probably never seen Depay play'. I've personally watched him play many times, and I'm sure others have too, especially since he's been linked with LFC.

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  6. Yes...great player. If we get him for around 20-25mn then we should definitely buy him.

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  7. Not sure they are up to running a B&B

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  8. Its because Sterling have decided to quit Liverpool. If you would have asked this question few months back then result would have been different.

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  9. he doesnt suit rodgers style of play irrespective of price

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  10. yah sure jk eveyone is just glued to there sets watching dutch football...who are you kidding

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  11. I knew there'd be the comparison to Carroll. Benteke has pace, better ball control, fitter and stronger. He can work the flanks and is an all round better footballer and athlete.

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  12. and his bank manager

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  13. He's too good for Liverpool, he should sign for a top four club

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  14. liverpool have handled the whole situation like amateurs ....the reality is the only crime sterling has done is refused to sign a contract in a business where contracts are futile

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  15. Well we'll find out soon enough who is better not long 'til the start of the new season ;-)

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  16. Not forgetting the Sterling charitable foundation

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  17. i actually think benteke will have better options available than liverpool ...it may pain some fans to hear that but i think a host of Cl clubs will be in for him

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  18. Yes, but that's how you get diseases. Oh wait, you're talking about footballers. Forget that I said that.

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  19. if only it where that easy

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  20. or they may smell of B O borini and origi

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  21. Much the same then

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  22. it was inevitable with a name like sterling he would chase money

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  23. Chomping for his head?

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  24. A B&B it's the second B that will cost us.You can part cook the sausages but if you ask people what kind of eggs they want it's a nightmare. That's a trauma for anyone but for LFC it could be the end of the club

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  25. Made me think of the scene in Shawshank where Dufresne threatens to bite Bogs's JT.

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  26. But not good enough for one of them unfortunately for him.

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  27. What level CL club though? Would, could they pay as much in wages as us. Lots of CL clubs can't and he is not good enough for an elite one.

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  28. He won't sign at anfield, If you step back and look it's lazy journalism Liverpool strikers have been injured (Sturridge) or rubbish (balotelli) so they need a striker and guess who scores goals? And against Liverpool it must mean he's going to sign for you? I believe what both he and his agent have said if a champions league team comes in then there's a decision to be made but as Liverpool aren't then there's no decision. Given the ffp is being relaxed and bents 65k a week is off the books villa can now match any contract Liverpool would offer people like Jon Barnes and Aldridge even carra still see Liverpool as a big club that wins things sadly there not one carling cup in a decade shows this is the case he'll be a villa player until the end of next year then he'll go to a BIG club I'm not trying to cause conflict im just pointing out the rumour has no substance

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  29. I think we have a chance here as current top 4 EPL clubs won't ve after him. IMO

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  30. I do agree though the plastic trophy from Timpsons engraved with Stirling best player is likely to make any future contract negotiations very tricky.

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  31. You can't cause any more conflict than already exists. Nice effort, though ;-)

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  32. I agree with a lot of what you day but you think Villa will give him ninety grand a week?

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  33. Steff the Villan6:50 pm, May 20, 2015

    You're not top 4, you're not in the champions league, he wouldn't join you, so nothing to see here, just a load of ex players filling column inches with dreams of success again, one day............

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  34. Really, I have to agree on this one Stuart; you know I think sterling has gone off the boil on purpose....just like an impetuous teenager; wont play ball......but the boy is quality, lots of wingers and players look fast on the ball and quick with their feet but he really takes a different first position and runs at a different trajectory......I'd love to keep him....


    ....and when a comment i posted received quite a cacophony of incredulity and mirth at my suggestion sterling was 'like a very young, very raw robben or ribery, I still felt there was merit in what i wrote.
    ..if only in my strange perception of life around me (i have been told more than once i may be an extra terrestrial alien) - i really do see that quality in sterling......
    .....and guess what...apparently bayern munich have enquired as to his price.....i wonder why.....?

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  35. We dont get dutch football in oz just highlights liked what i saw of Depay during the world cup but thats not always a great guide.

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  36. I do mate I believe that the days of slashing wage bills and selling have now gone they gave Delphi a 30k rise taking him from 25k to 55k so the same rise would take benteke to 80k and when your talking that sort of money what's another 10k I hope Liverpool do get a quality striker I work with to many mancs could do with either or both of the outa the top 4

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  37. I want the best for Liverpool and I really believe Sterling will turn out to be just that,


    It would really hurt me to see him playing for another club and adding to their success for the next ten years or so. I do fear though that because of the way the story has been played out in the press he may now go elsewhere, It will give me no pleasure though if I am right about him.

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  38. Good dont want or need another sick note and he doesnt fit into our system anyway.

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  39. Its called ambitions not dreams.

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  40. Stan Dinaround7:53 pm, May 20, 2015

    Has to be a media estimate, because City, in all reason can't expect to get that sort of cash for a substitute....

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  41. Stan Dinaround7:55 pm, May 20, 2015

    OH, ok... I think your probably right....

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  42. Stan Dinaround8:02 pm, May 20, 2015

    Ancelotti.... I get the impression City like their reserved personality, where as Klopp likes a club he can really be the difference...

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  43. Stan Dinaround8:03 pm, May 20, 2015

    No suprise....... Like I said.. Mental.

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  44. Stan Dinaround8:12 pm, May 20, 2015

    Sigh, sigh, sigh.... Lets wait and see shall we... Sterling could easily have scored 30 goals in Eredivisie.... Lets see how Depay does when he steps up before making rash statements on who is better or not....

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  45. Stan Dinaround8:13 pm, May 20, 2015

    bud da ba bum ching.

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  46. Stan Dinaround8:17 pm, May 20, 2015

    Whoa, back up there sonny, don't want to inflate any ego's, we'll start getting half ar53d articles if your not careful..... He'll be looking for a move to the BBC or Goal.com if your not careful

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  47. Stan Dinaround8:19 pm, May 20, 2015

    Not without a subcription to SkySports5 in this country...

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  48. Stan Dinaround8:20 pm, May 20, 2015

    I watch bits, and I would rate it somewhere on par with lower Championship grade....

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  49. Stan Dinaround8:23 pm, May 20, 2015

    Dior...... ??

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  50. He was the perfect signing before he started scoring. He's basically sterling but a goals scorer.

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  51. He could offer us a nice change of strategy (ala Rickie Lambert's original idea).

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  52. It would hurt you and me both bro....you and me both....


    .....also regardless that he got heckled last night and there are those who would have you believe the LFC hierarchy are 'bullied and beaten spouses' for taking sterlings behaviour and still giving him awards.....the thing is he hasn't gone yet he is still here and still an LFC player and there is still a chance just like suarez for him to be convinced he has another year with us; increase his worth, value and hone a few qualities with regular gameplay in familiar surroundings and then go to the highest bidder having earned 110k weekly in a new contarct with a release clause....


    ...tell him play well and they will come....you know what i'm saying.....

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  53. Not to forget "man fans"

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  54. 29 years old.. Really? That money can be spend on Lacazete

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