Legend Confirms: Liverpool want to sign 'world-class' £32m 'beast' this summer because he'll 'score goals'

Last month, Liverpool target Christian Benteke admitted that he's 'very pleased' to be linked with a move to Liverpool, but conceded that he wants to 'play in the Champions League'. That seemingly rules out a move to Anfield, but according to Reds legend Ray Houghton, Benteke remains the club's number-one summer transfer target.

When asked today about Liverpool's transfer targets, Houghton revealed the following tidbit of apparent inside information. He told TalkSport:

"I heard that Benteke is one of Liverpool’s major priorities for the summer. He’s the one they’re looking for".

Houghton also explained why he believes the big Belgian will be a success at Liverpool:

"Benteke’s a huge player, and he’ll fit into the [Liverpool] style of play Liverpool. He’s big, he’s physical, and he can upset defenders. He has genuine pace, and he can score goals".

Hmmm. Bar the 'pace' aspect, this description could also apply to Andy Carroll, who turned out to be one of the biggest Liverpool flops in years.

Benteke - who, according to Paul Lambert, is 'world-class' - is definitely on the outs at Villa, and his agent, Kismet Eris confirmed this in May, when he told The Independent:

"He [Benteke] will not sign a new contract. He will do whatever is possible legally to leave Aston Villa. He wants to play for a higher team".

The one advantage that Liverpool have is that Benteke is practically guaranteed regular first-team football at Andfield. Sturridge is endlessly injury prone, and Lambortelli won't get near the first team next season with the big Belgian on board.

Plus, there's the pull of Liverpool FC itself, and despite the club's detractors, that should not be underestimated, though I have no confidence in Ian Ayre's ability to sell the club to Benteke, to the extent that he'd reject Arsenal and Man United.


Benteke featured in Belgium's recent 1-0 defeat to Wales, and after the game, manager Mark Wilmots publicly criticised the striker for his performance, and highlighted an issue that concerns a number of Reds fans. He told Belgian TV:

"Benteke was isolated. I then played with two strikers, but they need more crosses. We asked them to get to the front post, but they [the strikers] stand there like two poles".

In Mario Balotelli (and, arguably, Rickie Lambert) the club already has two static 'poles' up-front, and what the club really needs is a mobile, Suarez-type striker who's always on the prowl.

Benteke - nicknamed 'The Beast' - has a £32m buyout clause in his contract, but paying that much for the Belgian is a massive gamble, and it's one that Rodgers cannot afford to take.

£20m is more like it, and if Liverpool somehow contrive to sign Benteke for that amount, it'll be good business (IMO).

That said, in a recent site poll, 58% of fans voted AGAINST the transfer, which strongly suggests there's very little support for the deal.

Author: Jaimie K