Liverpool are now free to thrash out personal terms with Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke after matching the player's £32.5m release clause.
Brendan Rodgers’ side have been linked with the Belgium international all summer, but appeared to be stalling on making the 24-year-old the club’s second most expensive player of all time until reports emerged suggesting Manchester United had entered the race for his signature.
The Villa striker has proved a thorn in Liverpool’s side in recent years, scoring five goals in his six appearances against the Reds.
The Belgium international's goals have played an integral part in ensuring Villa’s Premier League status since he joined from Genk in 2012 and he will prove a hard man to replace for Tim Sherwood. Benteke has had a direct involvement in 43% of Villa’s Premier League goals (50) since his debut.
For more stats on Christian Benteke, click her to visit his WhoScored player page
