Liverpool Ready To Bid For £30m Striker But Man Utd Could Hijack Move

As the opening of the summer transfer window approaches, managers are working hard identifying targets and lining-up potential deals so we’ll bring you all the news and gossip. Today, Manchester United are ready to join the race for Christian Benteke….

Liverpool are set to bid for Christian Benteke after Aston Villa take part in this weekend’s FA Cup final but Manchester United are also showing a keen interest in the £30m striker, according to the Telegraph.

Brendan Rodgers looks likely to hold on to his job despite a disastrous end to whats been a disappointing campaign and the Northern Irishman is ready to put his transfer plans into action.

A new striker is almost certainly going to be on the agenda as Liverpool struggled badly for goals this past season, with Daniel Sturridge missing for the majority of the season through injury while the likes of Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert failed to fill the void up front.

The Telegraph claim that Liverpool have made Benteke their No.1 striker target and will table a formal offer to Aston Villa after the Midlands club takes part in Saturday’s FA Cup Final against Arsenal.

It’s not known precisely how much the Merseysiders will offer but it’s understood Rodgers is hoping to get a deal agreed swiftly in order to avoid a similar late scramble which led to him having to buy Balotelli late on last summer.

However, it appears Liverpool could now face stiff competition for Benteke’s signature as the newspaper suggests that Manchester United are also monitoring the Belgian international and could look to hijack the Reds’ move.

Louis van Gaal is also on the look-out for another striker after rejecting the chance to sign Radamel Falcao on a permanent basis and the Dutchman could decide to step-up his interest in Benteke and rival Liverpool for his signature this summer.

The 24-year-old endured a disappointing first half to the season but he rediscovered his goal-scoring touch since Tim Sherwood replaced Paul Lambert, and he scored 12 goals in his final 12 games of the season.

Both Liverpool and United could do with that kind of threat in front of goal but any potential deal won’t come cheap as the Telegraph claim that Villa will demand around £30m to sell Benteke this summer.

It remains to be seen whether the likes of Liverpool or United will be prepared to meet that figure but it will be interesting to see who the player opt to join if both clubs end up agreeing deals with Villa.

READ MORE –> Liverpool transfer news | Man Utd transfer news

United can offer Champions League football but you’d think Benteke would have more chance of regular first team football at Anfield, so it may come down to what the striker feels is more important at this stage of his career.