Liverpool Transfer News: Arturo Vidal Bid 'Rejected,' Christian Benteke Rumours

Liverpool have had a bid for Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal rejected, but the Serie A giants have named a price at which they would let the Chilean star go, according to reports.

A long-rumoured target of Manchester United's last summer, per the Guardian's Jamie Jackson, Vidal is now reportedly on Liverpool's radar as they look to replace the departing Steven Gerrard in central midfield.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Metro's Tom Olver), Juve have already rejected a £14.4 million bid from Liverpool for the 27-year-old, but will accept an offer of £25 million.

Stu Forster/Getty Images

This is a considerably lower valuation for Vidal than the quoted £45 million-plus demanded of United for the player last summer, per Jackson.

This is somewhat surprising as Vidal's contract at Juventus runs until 2017, and he has been a key part of the team which has won Serie A this season and made it to the Champions League final.

Furthermore, Vidal is clearly very happy in Turin, per 24 Horas, via Bleacher Report's Italian football writer Adam Digby:

However, if Juve are offering Vidal to Liverpool for £25 million, the Merseyside outfit should grasp the opportunity with both hands.

The Chile international is a world-class central midfielder, as comfortable bulldozing forward and scoring goals as he is tracking back and making vital interceptions and disrupting opposition play.

Along with Gerrard, Lucas Leiva may also be on his way out of Anfield this summer, per Bleacher Report's Alex Dimond, but Vidal would certainly make up for the pair's departure:

Brendan Rodgers' team have underwhelmed this season, sorely lacking the world-class focal point that was Luis Suarez in 2013-14.

Vidal could add a dynamism and inspiration which has been missing from Liverpool this season and the Reds should snap him up if he is available for purchase. 

Villa Preparing Benteke Replacement

Mark Thompson/Getty Images

As well as a Gerrard replacement, Liverpool desperately need to bring in a new striker over the summer having struggled for goals this term.

Suarez's mooted replacements at the club, Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli, have both failed to make an impact this season and could both leave in the summer, per Dimond.

One potential target is Aston Villa's Christian Benteke, and the Birmingham outfit are already seemingly resigned to the fact their star man may be on the move.

They are reportedly lining up a move for Queens Park Rangers' Charlie Austin, with Dave Armitage in the Daily Star reporting that Villa are set to make a £15 million bid for the Englishman as Benteke's replacement.

Benteke is valued at £30 million and the Belgian is a proven force in Premier League football, per football writer Kristoff Terreur:

In terms of potentially available strikers, Benteke looks the perfect target for Liverpool.

He would effectively guarantee goals and his physicality would bring a new and different dimension to the Reds' play.

However, as noted by Armitage, many other clubs are interested in Benteke, and Liverpool may lose out due to their lack of Champions League football for next season.