12 Apr 2013

Deluded? - Boss slaps €30m price-tag on 'fantastic' LFC target BR called 'top class'.

Over the last few months, Liverpool have been linked with a summer move for Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke, a player Brendan Rodgers recently described as 'one of the very top players' in the Premier League. With 19 goals and 8 assists in his debut season, the Belgian is sure to be a wanted man during the upcoming transfer window, but Villa boss Paul Lambert has warned that it will take a huge transfer fee to prise the 22-year old away from Villa Park.

In an interview with the BBC yesterday, Lambert - whose team are hovering just above the relegation zone right now - described Benteke as 'hot property', with the 'potential to be fantastic', adding:

"If you wanted to prise Christian away from here you would want a sizeable cheque, that is for sure. If you look at modern day figures then £25m (€30m) is probably a good start.

"We can't stop people looking at him but he is under contract here. He is enjoying his football at the moment and doing fantastically well."


A few weeks ago, the Daily Mail claimed that Liverpool are 'weighing up a move' for Benteke:

"Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool and Arsenal have all had their interests piqued by the Belgian’s impressive start to his Premier League career"

In an interview with The Telegraph last week, Benteke's Agent, Eris Kismet, hinted that the Belgian would consider a move at the end of the season. He said:

"At the end of the season, interested clubs will talk to Villa, but it has to be right the buying club and Christian. If all three parties are agreeable, something could happen"

If Villa go down, it's doubtful that Benteke will stick around, and I personally would love to see him at Anfield.
However, £25m for a player with only one season's experience in the Premier League?

I can't see it, and after the club's experience with Andy Carroll - also signed for a huge fee after a short time in the top flight - I can't see Liverpool making the same mistake twice. Additionally, a £25m fee would put a massive burden on Benteke's shoulders, and that could ultimately turn out to be massively detrimental.

To be honest, I would take Benteke over Daniel Sturridge any day of the week, and in the long-run, I think he has more capability of being a regular goalscorer in the Premier League.



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55 comments:

  1. Not deluded at all. If you had Benteke at Anfield this season, would you let him go for less than 30million euros?

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  2. He's one of the best young strikers in world football, with a potential 10 years at the very top of the game ahead of him. Villa are under no pressure to sell him (unless we go down or he hands in a transfer request) and he has plenty of time on his contract. The club would have to be nuts to let him go for less than £25 million, and I think they'll try everything in their power to keep him.

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  3. that doesn't surprise me at all hes under contract.....if rogers payed 15m for allen benteke is a snip at 25m...honestly the guy has made a rod for his own back ...he will end up at arsenal or city if he goes...i hate saying it but why would he come to anfield over thoses clubs

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  4. Liverpool couldn't afford him anyway. But you do have a habit of paying silly money for crap players. 20 mil for downing etc

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  5. Benteke is not the right player for Liverpool. There are plenty of great forwards in Europe with the right qualities for a Rodgers team - and they would cost south of EUR 15 million.

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  6. On the business perspective of things, I think asking 25 mil pounds for an incomplete-1-season wonder is incredibly stupid and completely out of mind, my personal opinion of course. LFC should not even be looking at the player at all from now on unless it wants to start acting like an 'oil field under Anfield' club again. Given the stand of Villa, it seems like the only way we can get him for a sane price is the player handing in a transfer request or be a contract rebel. But if that's true, then do we want this kind of player at the club? He can do it anytime again as we all should know where LFC stands against elite clubs in Europe now. In turn, it will set a bad example for other players at the club to follow. Can we afford this now?

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  7. A few good month is enough nowadays to declare a player as the next best thing, it's ridiculous really !!!!

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  8. And who are you to make such sweeping statements?

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  9. I would also be delighted to have Benteke at Anfield but 25 to 30m for a season wonder not necessarily saying that he can't step up to the plate at a big club but the weight of that price tag on his shoulders would have an effect on his mind especially with a star packed team he would always want to impress the fans,and would not be free to play it the easy way and be comfortable on the ball,same with Carrol he was always striving hard to score goals you could even read the anguish on his face that he was not free as a player were his always trying to find lost causes e.g the Chelsea game against West Ham dis season he was trying by all means to get to the end of crosess tusling for the ball up in the air with defenders and was the only one putting in 150 effort,trying by all means to make BR change his mind and give him another chance so i fear the same with Benteke though his better than carrol with his feet and his composure on the ball is great.i would rather spend that money on a proven and established striker David Villa for 10m,Leandro Damaio,,Hinguain,Huntelaar,Mario Gomes,Lewandoski because these quality strikers can step up to the plate even in world class teams

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  10. You paid 35Mi for Carroll so how you are even questioning Benteke being worth 25Mil is bizarre, and liverpool would not be a step up you spend rediculous money on average players: allen, downing, henderson, carroll, johnson, sturridge. Plus you're a top 8 team at best.

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  11. You can't afford him, and he's destined for much bigger things than Liverpool. He's going abroad or to one of the top 5 or 6 sides for big £££

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  12. Look at how much you clowns paid for Downing, if anything if Benteke did leave, it would be for a Champions League club, not for a mid table one.

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  13. one of the best young strikers in world football? yes he's had a relatively good season, but no where near one of the best in the world. the lads got no composure in front of goal the majority of the time he just smashes it. I take it youse are just going off seeing a few goals on match of the day to rate him

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  14. yes we are mid table team, you will be in the championship and Christian will be orf.

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  15. I like him,Hes a good player but we'll see what hes made of next season,whether hes a flash in the pan or the real deal...Id side with the real deal but I'll reserve my judgement till next season

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  16. With all due respect If he had the choice of Villa or Liverpool,theres only one choice,Whether he'd pick Liverpool over someone like city all depends if he wants money or playing time and progressing his career.

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  17. He is potentially the next ronaldo.
    What is 25 m ? wouldn't mind paying double this price .

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  18. He loves Arsenal, he would also look at moving to another big team, so the question is, why are you lot discussing him? Are you in the top four or likely to be? The Villa faithful are told that they live in delusion, European cup winners living on past glories, so, apart from 1 league cup in the last 6/7 years, what will make you so much better a destination?

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  19. lets get his partner weimann & offer them 40 m
    Potentially one of best striker in pl

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  20. I agree, next season will be vital. But we might value him even higher after that!

    Back to the 30 million figure, Paul Lambert might have done better by not stating a price. But as a Villa fan, I would have been massively disappointed if he stated anything less than that figure.

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  21. Liverpool pay up or shut up.............mind you for them to keep their mouths shut and stop interfering in other teams business is probably impossible!

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  22. jaimie like you say better than sturridge so the fee will have to be higher than 12 million

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  23. I'm just scared that we'll wait till next season to see if he can kill the second year syndrome, spurs will sign him this summer, the risk will pay off for them and he'll bang goals in every week,

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  24. Johnson has been great for us this season and Henderson has gone a long way to justify his price tag Sturridge looks value but i will give u the rest.

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  25. U won't get him u idiots dream on and stick with Andy Carroll lol

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  26. Because we won get relegated CLOWN :o)

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  27. i don't think he would even consider going to . liverpool ... i believe he's quite ambitious .....liverpool would be a sidways step ... ithink maybe he could end up at a higher profile club than liverpool ...... you know ..somewhere like barnet ... !!!!!

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  28. This story has more to do with Benteke's agent than the player. The kid has only just arrived at Villa and seems happy so all this transfer talk is just that - talk.


    Funny how everyone and his dog knew Benteke was going to be great. Yet only Lambert was prepared to stump up some cash - and the internet Villa posse wailed and gnashed their teeth - Benteke who?


    Now the kid is finding his feet the vultures begin to circle.

    I thought the appt of BR was meant to move LFC away from the days of cheque book management? Then again if Suarez goes you'll have money to spend - I just hope you don't make another series of panic buys.

    I hope Liverpool find their way back to being themselves again - and start growing their own talent - instead of being a kind of second rate Man Citeh - looking to buy success by paying top dollar - with no sense of youth or community development.

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  29. Any chance of revealing who these sub £15 million sure fire premiership hotshots might be?

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  30. You say £10 million - then create a wish list - I assume you are talking wages - per year? My dear?

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  31. Nor will we.


    And we won't win f all either. Just like you!

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  32. No Lambert is not deluded at all. Why is it that Liverpool FC thinks it can get quality players on the cheap. At least M.United pay the going rate - respect to them.

    What is more deluded is paying 35 million for Carol - from your so called legend Kind Kenny who has proved that he is shite as a manager.

    Even worse then paying 35 million, Liverpool FC are now asking 17 million for Carol - he's not worth 5 million.

    If Carol is worth 17 million according to LFC then, Benteke is being under valued by Lambert and is at the very least worth 40 million.

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  33. Actually he has one of the best conversion rates in the league. I am assuming you have never actually seen benteke play because h is unbelievably composed for such a big player. Fact is he has been one of the best forwards in th PL this year. And scores goals for fun in one of the best international teams in the world. He has 3 years left on his contract so he is worth what we say he is worth. I'll be disappointed if will sell him for 25 mil.

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  34. http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~3108657,00.html

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  35. carrolls fee cant be mentioned without the torrez fee as one drove the other in a unique situation which will never be repeated...allens wasnt it was driven purely by rogers will to buy him

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  36. I love Liverpool fans - deluded into thinking that a move to Anfield would be a must for most players - lets see how long you hold on to the Uruguayan bunny when you don't qualify for the champs league - pay up or shut up he will go to a London club when he leaves

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  37. whoever you support its a fact that they will not be as higher profile club than liverpool because there is no club in english football with a bigger profile than liverpool bum lick billy

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  38. I'm sure there will be some escape clause in his contract to leave Villa if they get relegated, either for a minimum sum or free...if this clause is leaked...than he's a hot property by end of May depending on Villa's final table position...

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  39. Lets be honest, managers love to put out a scare figure to try and put people off but it's all part of the game. Benteke is a really good player and would be a fine addition because he plays the way that would fit BRs style, unlike Carroll. We won't pay £25m so if anyone does he'll be goin to one of the top four. He's worth more to AV than to other clubs of course so you cAnt blame them wanting every last penny for him but, sorry AV fans, he is simply too good for a bottom half of the table side.

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  40. He would be well advised to stay away from Liverpool and try for a club that is going somewhere. It's been years since I called myself a Liverpool supporter but I still feel sad when I see the depths to which they have dropped. The only good news for a Liverpool fan is when the season ends.

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  41. And 35 million for a certain Andy C! God knows what they paid for Sturridge, but that was thrown away too.

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  42. Sturridge looks value? Did he look value today? Couldn't score against Reading! Reading - a park team. As for Johnson, his basic ball control is pitiful.

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  43. I was a Liverpool fan for many years but it is perfectly true that their fans are completely delusional. They simply cannot comprehend that a side that loses to West Brom, Aston Villa, Oldham etc is no longer a top team. They still think everything is going to magically turn around and one day soon they will be challenging for honours again, though they have not a single scrap of evidence for it. Luckily for me, I saw the great days.

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  44. You're a good example of the typical deluded Liverpool fan. Living in a fantasy world and with no intention of ever leaving it. High profile clubs don't lose at home to West Brom, get trounced by Aston Villa at Anfield or turfed out of the cup by a joke eleven. By the way, how did high-profile Liverpool get on today against Reading?

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  45. The writer of this is slightly deluded. Firstly he cherry picks quotes in his favor but doesn't quote that Benteke's agent has actually said his player wants to stay at Villa to develop as long as we can stay in the league this season, he see's what Lambert is building and is happy at the club and loves the fans. He wants to reward Lambert for bringing him in and playing him regularly, his World cup ambitions count on him playing week in week out Secondly there would be three genuine destinations for him should he leave. City, Chelsea or Arsenal, they wouldn't play him week in week out though and he could go backwards in his development. Then there is the fact that the likes of Spurs, Liverpool, Inter etc ... couldn't afford him, he has three and a half years left on his contract and Villa would want in excess of £25m on the table to even consider it.

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  46. Too right to that Villa fans. Liverpool fans reckon Lucas is worth £25m, the guys been average at best since his injury,yet the their valuation of him remains the same.

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  47. You're off you rocker numb nuts. Liverpool's popularity is diminishing every season they remain outside the CL.

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  48. And neither could Suarez, Gerrard, Coutinho or any of the other outfield players.

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  49. You paid 20 mil for Downing ( thanks)

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  50. I-hate-the-SKY-47:48 am, April 14, 2013

    So Lamberts deluded, mmm he didn't pay £35 million for Andy Carroll or better still £20million for Downing

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  51. i'd rather have 30 mil spent on a good central defender, and an okay plan B striker. Rodger's philosophy favors more technical players like sturridge, so why spend 30 mil on someone he might bench all the time?

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  52. in france or spain :D

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  53. thats just where, the who is for BR's bad scouts to figure out

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