Liverpool Transfer News: Christian Benteke Talks Reds Future, Jurgen Klopp, More

Christian Benteke has admitted that he will have to consider his Liverpool future next season if he continues to be underplayed by Reds manager Jurgen Klopp.

The Belgian striker moved to Anfield from Aston Villa last summer for £32.5 million, but he was used only sparingly after Klopp replaced Brendan Rodgers in October 2015, and the striker endured a frustrating season in front of goal.

Benteke, 25, said he respected Klopp's decisions to play the likes of Roberto Firmino, Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi ahead of him in the striker's role, but he revealed he would consider leaving Liverpool if the pattern continued, per the Sun's Geoff Sweet: 

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At 25, I’m neither old nor young but it’s important to play. I still have a contract at Liverpool and I’d like to stay there, if I remain in the coach’s plans.

If that’s not the case, it will become difficult to stay. I’ll think about if after the Euros. I was prepared for what I went through (last season). I knew that if I had mixed performances I would be criticised. That’s what happened.

When he (Klopp) arrived I saw that I wasn’t in his plans. That was frustrating because I knew that during my first season at Aston Villa he wanted me. But we had several discussions together—I respect and I understand his decisions.

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Benteke is preparing for Euro 2016 in France with the Belgium national team. 

However, he is not in the best of form, having returned only nine goals from 29 appearances in the Premier League last season, per WhoScored.com.

More than half of those appearances came from the bench in 2015-16, though, and he made just 13 starts from the 52 matches Liverpool played after Klopp took over, per Sweet.

It is clear that he does not fit into the German manager's system, although Klopp is reportedly happy with his current strike unit—which also includes the returning Danny Ings—and will only consider selling Benteke if a big-money offer comes in, per the Times' Oliver Kay:

Benteke could look to force a move, perhaps in the January transfer window, if he continues to be used so sporadically next season.

He remains a top-quality striker who is proven as a goalscorer in the Premier League—he returned 42 goals in 89 appearances during three seasons at Villa—but he needs to play in a system geared towards his strengths.

Benteke's physicality and aerial prowess are his major assets, per WhoScored:

But Klopp's style does not lend itself to those strengths, as crosses from wide areas and long balls are not regular.

It seems unlikely, then, that Benteke will be given many more starting chances next season than he was in 2015-16, and based on the Belgian's latest comments, it will not be long before he is looking to leave the club.