Liverpool are close to signing Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke, according to the Liverpool Echo. The report states that the Reds are willing to meet Benteke’s release clause of $48 million and the Belgian striker is said to be keen on a move to Anfield.
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Benteke, 24, has scored 49 goals in 101 games for Villa since arriving in the Premier League in 2012 from Genk. The Belgian international will become the second most expensive player in Liverpool’s history if the deal goes through and he’ll provide plenty of firepower alongside Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi, with Rickie Lambert, Fabio Borini and Mario Balotelli on the outside looking in.
The Daily Express say Manchester City are after Everton midfielder James McCarthy but they may have a tough time sealing the move. Toffees boss Roberto Martinez has ruled out selling McCarthy, 24, to City after the Goodison Park club bought him from Wigan Athletic for $25 million in 2013. The Republic of Ireland international had also been interesting Tottenham Hotspur and with City failing in their pursuit of Villa’s Fabian Delph, they are still looking for British talent to both bolster their midfield and also help their homegrown player quota.
Roberto Soldado’s nightmare at White Hart Lane could soon be over, as the Daily Mirror reports that Sevilla have offered $16 million for the striker who signed for Spurs in 2013 for $40 million. Soldado, 30, has scored just seven times for Spurs in two seasons and spent most of last season on the bench behind Harry Kane. Soldado would feature in the UEFA Champions League for Sevilla and the Spanish international would get the chance to return to La Liga.
Another Spurs player potentially on the way out is central defender Younes Kaboul. The Frenchman, 29, fail out of favor with Mauricio Pochettino last season and is said to be heading to Sunderland for a medical ahead of a $5 million move. Kaboul is said to be on big wages at Spurs, so getting him off the wage bill will free up plenty of space for Pochettino to strengthen elswhere.
