Liverpool Transfer News: Latest Christian Benteke and Paul-Georges Ntep Rumours

Liverpool will meet the £32.5 million release clause to sign Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke. The Anfield club had been reticent to pay so much for the Belgian target man, but that thinking has now changed, per Neil Fissler of the Sunday Express.

Fissler believes Benteke wants a move to the Kop club ahead of a switch to other Premier League suitors, including Tottenham Hotspur: "He has since emerged as a target for Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool—who are set to win the race with Benteke setting his heart on a move to Merseyside."

The Reds certainly need a prolific central striker to add some cutting edge to an attack that went stale without Luis Suarez last season. Misfiring trio Rickie Lambert, Mario Balotelli and Raheem Sterling all failed to fill the void after the mercurial Uruguayan was sold to Barcelona last summer.

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Yet despite Liverpool's woes up front, £32.5 million is a hefty fee for the club to pay. It's especially steep considering how inconsistent Benteke can be.

The 24-year-old is capable of taking over games with his combination of pace, clever movement and awesome aerial power. But he can also be guilty of disappearing for long stretches during a season and going missing in big games.

The most notable recent example of the latter foible came during Villa's 4-0 FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal. Benteke was a non-factor against a defence that often struggles in the air.

A step up may be what Benteke feels his career needs. Decorated ex-Liverpool centre-back Mark Lawrenson wrote a column for the Liverpool Echo, detailing how Benteke's presence would increase Rodgers' tactical flexibility:

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We all know that his strength is in the air and he could play on his own up front and would be able to operate in a 4-3-3 or in a diamond, with Danny Ings behind him.

It’s all about different options for Brendan. Not just from game to game but changing within matches now, which seems to be a big thing within the Premier League.

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Yet not everybody is as convinced Liverpool will pay the price Villa are asking for. Ian Doyle of the Liverpool Echo refutes the latest rumour:

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But, according to the Daily Express website, that has all changed with the Reds prepared to bite the bullet and cough up the readies to sign the big Belgian.

That’s not what we’re hearing, though.

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Having already spent a small fortune retooling his squad since the season ended, manager Brendan Rodgers may want to count the pennies rather than make another splurge. Liverpool need a striker, but that need shouldn't force the club into paying over the odds for any available attacker.

Raheem Sterling Replacement Identified

Rodgers may be undecided over what to do about Benteke, but he apparently already knows who he wants to replace possible transfer exit Raheem Sterling. The Kop boss has identified Rennes winger Paul-Georges Ntep to replace the Manchester City target, according to Eurosport (h/t Inside Futbol).

Apparently, Ntep's name "features prominently" on the list of potential replacements. It's also claimed Liverpool will begin talks with Ligue 1 club Rennes as soon as Sterling's potential sale is complete. It's a scenario also put forward by French publication Le10 Sport (h/t Sport Witness).

Sterling's exit is now looking likelier, despite the player's preparing to report for the club's pre-season training. City are expected to make a third bid this week, according to the Telegraph (h/t James Orr of the Independent):

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While he will report for training on Monday, his participation in the club's pre-season tour of Bangkok is in serious doubt. The club depart for Thailand next Sunday, with City hoping to have an offer accepted for him before then.

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As a young talent on the rise, with plenty of pace and technical quality, Ntep fits the mould of players Rodgers has been fond of recruiting since he took over at Anfield. He certainly makes sense as a replacement for Sterling after a breakout season in the French top flight.

The 22-year-old scored nine times and contributed five assists for Rennes last season, according to WhoScored.com. Like Sterling, he's versatile enough to play multiple positions along the forward line.

He most often operates on the left side, although he will frequently switch flanks. Ntep is also powerful enough to even operate through the middle.

Rodgers' squad features lots of playmakers, such as Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and new boy Roberto Firmino. But they are missing the speed and width Ntep would provide. He could form a prolific combination with Daniel Sturridge (once he's fit) and new signing Danny Ings.

It certainly makes more sense for Rodgers to try to wrap up a deal for Ntep, rather than spend so much to acquire a player as erratic as Benteke.