Benteke set for Liverpool medical – report
Liverpool have reached an agreement with Aston Villa over the payment terms for the £32.5 million transfer of Christian Benteke, reports Press Association Sport.
Sources told ESPN FC that Liverpool made a bid to trigger the 24-year-old Belgium international’s release clause on Friday, having planned to make their move once Raheem Sterling’s sale to Manchester City had been completed
Reds chief executive Ian Ayre has reportedly been conducting negotiations over the weekend as to just how and when that money will be paid, and discussions have reached a satisfactory conclusion with the Anfield club believed to be paying half the fee up front.
The striker will now undergo a medical, which is likely to take place on Monday evening or Tuesday morning,
As a result Benteke will not be joining his new teammates for the remainder of their tour, with the squad due to fly to Kuala Lumpur for a match against a Malaysia XI on Friday after Monday’s friendly against Adelaide United.
Ayre stayed up through the night in Australia to thrash out the final terms of the deal, which will see the Reds pay £16m up front with further payments over the course of the deal taking it up to the full £32.5m.
Club doctor Andy Massey will now fly home on Sunday night from Adelaide to London where the proposed medical will take place.
The signing is seen as a show of support for manager Brendan Rodgers from owners Fenway Sports Group after a robust end-of-season review of last campaign’s sixth-placed finish, which resulted in the sacking of assistant manager Colin Pascoe and first team coach Mike Marsh’s contract not being renewed.
Benteke was Rodgers’ primary transfer target this summer as he wanted to strengthen his attacking options, but also needs a front-line striker who can withstand the rigours of the Premier League.
England international Daniel Sturridge made just 18 appearances last season after missing virtually the first five months of the campaign with injury.
He is likely to be sidelined until at least September after undergoing surgery on a hip problem which prematurely ended his campaign in April.
That would have left Rodgers with youngster Divock Origi, playing his first season in English football after spending last season on loan at Lille, and summer signing Danny Ings as his frontline options with Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini deemed surplus to requirements.
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