Christian Benteke could make a shock move to Merseyside rivals, Everton from Liverpool, before the end of this transfer window. Everton are looking for a striker to replace Romelu Lukaku, who has been widely linked to a return back to Chelsea.
Benteke is not part Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp’s plans and is deemed surplus. Benteke was signed in 2015 by previous Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers for £32.5 million from Aston Villa. He scored 10 goals in all competitions for Liverpool in his debut season, but the arrival of Jurgen Klopp spelt the end of Benteke’s Liverpool career, as he doesn’t fit in with Klopp’s preferred high-pressing style of play
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Crystal Palace emerged as the leading contenders for Benteke’s signature, but Liverpool rejected bids from them as Palace weren’t able to match their £30 million price tag.
Also Read: Liverpool transfer rumour: Reds reject Crystal Palace's £30m bid for Christian Benteke
Palace have money to spend after selling Yannick Bolasie to Everton for £25 million. According to ESPN, Palace were willing to shell £23 million up-front with a further £7 million as add-ons, but the Anfield club are looking for £28 million plus £4 million in add-ons. The Palace deal for Benteke was almost a foregone conclusion but has stalled now.
Reports from Liverpool suggest that Benteke will be sold only if clubs agree to meet their valuation of the player.
Everton are willing to pay the sum that Liverpool are demanding and, will make a move for the striker if Chelsea agree to pay £70 million for Lukaku. Lukaku joined Chelsea in 2011 for a fee of £10 million from Anderlecht but was loaned out to West Bromwich Albion in 2012 and Everton in 2013. He made his loan move to Everton a permanent one after signing for £28 million.
A move for Lukaku could see a transfer merry-go-round with his Belgian compatriot Benteke moving to Everton.
New Sunderland manager, David Moyes, is also on the lookout for a top-class striker and could make a bid for Benteke, as the only in-form striker in his squad is Jermain Defoe. Moyes, in a recent interview, spoke about the need for his club to sign a striker, “There’s no doubt we have to make signings and I believe we definitely will do.
“We were never off the phone last week. It was constant apart from the training to see what we could do. It was more to get the information before we made any actions.
“I think it’s well documented that we’ve only got one centre-forward really in Jermain Defoe – we’ve got others who can do the job at other times. But I would like to strengthen in most areas if it comes up.”
Benteke could join the likes of Kevin Sheedy, Peter Beardsley, and Steve McMahon of being a small list of players who played for both Merseyside clubs, Liverpool and Everton.
