Liverpool Agree To Meet Striker’s £32.5m Fee Amid Rumours Man Utd Plan Late Hijack

With the summer transfer window finally open for business, managers are working hard trying to strengthen their squads ahead of next season so we’ll bring you all the news and gossip. Today, Liverpool have agreed to pay Benteke’s asking price….

Liverpool have agreed to meet Christian Benteke’s £32.5m release clause amid rumours Manchester United are planning to hijack their move for the Aston Villa striker, according to the Liverpool Echo.

Benteke has been strongly linked with a move to Anfield this summer but they’ve so far been reluctant to meet the Belgian international’s full asking price, with the Express reporting last month that their opening £22m offer had been rejected by Villa.

As we reported this morning, widespread newspaper reports in this mornings papers suggested that the Merseysiders reluctance to meet Villa’s demands could cost them as the Telegraph claimed that Manchester United were plotting a late move to hijack Liverpool’s proposed deal.

The Birmingham Mail also ran a story suggesting that United were prepared to pay the full value of Benteke’s £32.5m release clause and could try and push through a deal by the weekend.

However, it appears the threat of late interest from United has spurred Liverpool into action as the Liverpool Echo are reporting this afternoon that the Reds are on the verge of completing a deal for Benteke after agreeing to match the striker’s release clause.

The newspaper states that the Merseysiders have yet to officially table the required £32.5m offer, so there is still time for United if they really do want to sign the 24-year-old, but the Liverpool Echo suggests that the player has his ‘heart set’ on moving to Anfield.

I’m not too sure I buy that as I’m sure he may have a change of heart if United did also trigger his clause as the Red Devils easily have the financial muscle to lure him to Old Trafford, plus they can offer Champions League football, but perhaps the lure of playing more guaranteed football at Anfield is a big factor for the player.

Either way, the Liverpool Echo are one of several media outlets who are reporting this afternoon that Benteke looks to be heading to Liverpool, so it appears Brendan Rodgers is closing in on his seventh signing of the summer.

The Northern Irishman needed to strengthen his strike-force this summer and even though they’ve just lost Raheem Sterling, the addition of Benteke along with Firmino and Danny Ings should ensure Liverpool have more threat up front next year.

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

I personally don’t see Benteke as an elite striker but he’s certainly a huge threat as he’s managed to score 49 goals in 101 games for a very average Villa side, and he has the potential to develop his game even further at a bigger club.

We’ll have to wait and see how things develop but despite the earlier reports of a late hijack attempt by United, it does appear likely that Benteke is Anfield bound this summer. Will he be a success? Only time will tell….