BRENDAN RODGERS will this week match the £32.5million buy-out clause in Christian Benteke’s Aston Villa contract to continue his summer spending spree.
Rodgers took the number of new signings at Liverpool to six last week when he paid Southampton £12.5m for England international right back Nathaniel Clyne. And he shows no sign of letting up with Villa’s Belgium international the next player he wants to arrive at Anfield
Benteke, 24, has scored 49 goals in 101 appearances since arriving at Villa Park from Genk for £7m almost three years ago. He has since emerged as a target for Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool - who are set to win the race with Benteke setting his heart on a move to Merseyside.
Liverpool have struggled to replace Luis Suarez since he moved to Barcelona last summer and Rodgers believes Benteke could provide the goals they've lacked since then. Benteke is poised to be Rodgers' seventh summer signing and takes Liverpool's spending past the £80m mark.
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| How Benteke could look in a Liverpool shirt |
Meanwhile, former Reds defender Glen Johnson is in talks with West Ham over a return to Upton Park after he was released this summer
