Liverpool Transfer News: Christian Benteke Wanted in Everton, Sunderland Rumours

Christian Benteke is reportedly happy to leave Liverpool on loan to get regular football, although Everton and Sunderland have been linked with a £30 million move for the player.

According to Dominic King of the Daily Mail, the Reds are holding firm on their valuation of the striker, having rejected a £25 million bid from Crystal Palace recently. That could put Benteke in a difficult position, as he is not said to feature in manager Jurgen Klopp's plans, meaning he’s keen to explore the prospect of a loan move.

Simon Bird and Darren Lewis of the Daily Mirror have reported a permanent switch could be on the cards for Benteke yet, though.

New Sunderland boss David Moyes is said to be a big fan of the player, while across Stanley Park at Everton, Benteke is also said to have been lined up as a potential replacement for Romelu Lukaku should he leave for Chelsea. “Everton are currently waiting to see whether Chelsea agree to their demands for Lukaku before moving for Benteke,” it’s noted.

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Either way, Benteke doesn’t seem to have a future at Anfield, meaning a transfer of some sorts is on the cards. It was evident in Klopp’s debut term that his coaching principles and the Belgian’s main attributes don’t align.

Any club that lands Benteke will be getting an aerial colossus. As these numbers from WhoScored.com illustrate, few get the better of the former Aston Villa man in the air:

What he can’t do, especially since rupturing his Achilles in April 2014, is run the channels frequently and press opposition defenders. Klopp’s system is about intense, transitional football, and it needs a mobile presence at the point of the attack to set the tempo. Benteke can’t be that presence.

There is still no reason why he couldn’t be a focal point for any of the aforementioned sides, though, especially given the managers of each are happy to play a brand of football that allows the team freedom to mix things up.

Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe feels that Palace boss Alan Pardew would be an ideal coach for the player to work under:

The most fascinating link of the lot is to Everton. With doubts cast over the future of Lukaku, targeting a striker of Benteke’s pedigree would make sense for manager Ronald Koeman and director of football Steve Walsh. But the historical local rivalry between the two sides would surely complicate matters.

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The last player to move between the two clubs was Abel Xavier, as he traded Everton for Liverpool in 2002. If the Toffees were to meet the player’s valuation, it’d put their rivals in an intriguing predicament, as it’s evident they're keen to offload a forward who’s not the right fit and a big drain on wages.

Radio City’s David Downie isn’t too concerned by the rivalry and would be happy to have Benteke at Everton:

Of course, Liverpool most likely wouldn’t want to sell to a rival, and with a few teams said to be in for the striker, they’ll be confident of cutting a deal with another club.

Benteke needs to find regular football. Although he impressed with Aston Villa the season before his switch to Liverpool, there are areas of his game that seem to be a little short from when he was in his pomp. He won't find that level again on the fringes at Anfield.