Benteke Signs for Liverpool

Benteke Signs for Liverpool

Christian Benteke is on the verge of signing for Liverpool in a deal which is expected to cost the reds 32.5 million pounds. Christian Benteke is due to have a medical at Liverpool and The Reds' club doctor will now travel to the UK to complete Benteke's medical in the next 48 hours. The striker, however, will not be joining his new team-mates on the tour.

Liverpool wanted the player but were not willing to match the release clause, the two clubs were at a standoff but the negotiations have progressed successfully.

The Belgian had reportedly turned down a switch to Tottenham. Benteke had a £32.5m buy-out clause and the reds were initially not willing to pay more than £25million for the forward but as per recent developments, Liverpool have agreed to match the amount mentioned on his release clause and the 24 year old is set to join them. The reds received 49 million for Raheem Sterling, who joined their title rivals Manchester City, thus helping them in their pursuit to sign the former Genk forward. The attacker currently has 2 years left on his contract with Aston Villa.

If the deal goes through, Aston Villa will have to pass on 15% of any fee over £7m to his former club Genk, who negotiated a sell-on clause back in 2012.

“There’s a buy-out clause in his contract so it will be impossible for us to stop him if he wants to go,” Villa boss Tim Sherwood said back in May. “Someone’s got to meet that buy-out clause and if they don’t it won’t be considered because we don’t want to lose him.”

Given Daniel Sturridge’s injury record as well as Balotelli’s inconsistency in the last season, Benteke looks to be a good choice as the strong striker has scored 49 goals in 101 appearances for Villa. Benteke scored 12 goals in 12 games last season to help Tim Sherwood's side avoid relegation from the top flight.

The Reds are highly active this transfer window as they look to challenge for the Premier League next season. If Benteke completes the switch, he would become Liverpool's seventh summer signing, joining Nathaniel Clyne, Danny Ings, James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Joe Gomez and Adam Bogdan.