Christian Benteke | BBC: Liverpool Agree £32.5m Fee

[Baxter]

Absolutely no chance we pay to have another £30m on the bench. Last season we had Fellaini, Mata, Herrera and Di Maria all spending lengthy spells on the bench and it will be the same this season with big players having to be satisfied as a sub at various points. It makes no sense to sign another big money player just for rotation.

Does nobody else think it could just be Villa putting it out there in the hope that Liverpool bid which allows them a month or so to get a replacement?

 

[goin4glory]

Villa are leaking this news to ramp up the price and scare Liverpool, every club does it when pool are interested in a player, see Firmino/Clyne/Ings.

 

[Rado_N]

Comparing him to Dwight Yorke is slanderous.

 

[JPRouve]

32m doesn't seem like a bad price in comparison.

I'm not to sure about the logic that you used here, Fellaini doesn't worth 27m, we overpaid him by almost 10m. Basically Benteke isn't better than Mandzukic and Mandzukic isn't a 32m striker.

 

[Invictus]

This seems to be a media ploy devised by Villa or Benteke's agent to generate more interest in him, or push Liverpool towards finalizing a fee. The £32 million buyout clause is an absurd fee for a player like him, and what he would represent to United. Now I know it's unlikely that Woodward will pay it, and it's not my money per se either, but that type of fee sets a very dangerous precedent for future negotiations. £32 million is not a fee you should be paying for an above average striker that might never be an automatic starter in a team that will employ a 1 striker system in the near future, considering how Chelsea bought one of the Top 4 or 5 strikers in Europe for a similar kind of fee just last season.

If you need a backup that can serve as a plan B and tide the club over 1 or 2 seasons until we find a more longer term successor to Rooney, or give Wilson more room to grow slowly, why not sign someone like Fernando Llorente instead ? 30 years old so it's not like he's ancient by any means, taller than Benteke for those who prefer aerial ability, but with better Spanish technical skill, has over 50 European appearances for Athletic Club and Juventus, and will cost somewhere in the region of £10-12 million.

Signing Benteke might even inhibit us from signing a better striker (like Kane or maybe even Lewandowski, hypothetically of course) next summer, because then we'll have Rooney, £32 million man Benteke, the new guy, and Wilson all vying for one spot in the starting XI with Van Gaal's implementation of the 1-4-3-3. Hope this whole link is balls to be honest, rather him at Liverpool than United. They can pay his fee and wages now that the Sterling money is flowing in in exchange for above average striker performances.

 

[saivet]

LVG wants to win the league, our strikers scored 30 goals between the four of them, two have since left, bollox to a cheap option who can do a decent job, we need a top striker to contribute a sackful of goals.

I get that but I don't consider him a top striker, I don't think he ever will be either. If we're going down that route, I'd prefer someone else.

 

[Devil may care]

What role is Fellaini occupying? Benteke is more than just a lump who you lob the ball up to. Not saying he'd be the best striking option but I'd have him over Fellaini every day of the week.

The role I see Fellaini occupying after our midfield upgrade is a target option off the bench when we can't pass through teams, Benteke may have a bit more to him but ostensibly that is how I see him being used as well.

That's the thing, he can do what Fellaini does but upfront. He is better technically, he is faster, his movement are better. But 32m£ is way too much.

The thing is we aren't selling Fellaini and Benteke has no potential to unseat Rooney or be our next main #9, so it just seems a waste of money and time, we could have gotten Bacca cheaper for the exact same role.

 

[JPRouve]

I wanted to respond to this. It's true Villa may get more space. However, it's all relative because Munich have more quality in the final third. So while there is perhaps more space for Benteke he's playing with inferior players and the service will not be up to the level Lewandowski gets. Lewandowski is better but it's still relevent I think.

But Lewandowski isn't the focal point of the attack and because there is more quality the goals are shared between 4-5 players unlike Aston Villa. We know that they can score goals so it's not interesting to compare their stats, what is interesting is what they do between the goals.

 

[JPRouve]

The thing is we aren't selling Fellaini and Benteke has no potential to unseat Rooney or be our next main #9, so it just seems a waste of money and time, we could have gotten Bacca cheaper for the exact same role.

If we buy Benteke, we should sell Fellaini.

 

[Paul the Wolf]

If it puts an end to the Cavani/ADM swap rumours - sign him up now

 

[Striker10]

I think United have enough quality in the other 9 players to make it almost a moot point. We have Morgan and Bastian that can ping the ball. I think our play can afford to be more direct at times. It's all about finding the right balance. Sometimes it's great to have all the ball but now we can spread the play. I don't want to say he can't link up the play because I'm sure he can. With better players, it's an easier game. After all this, we'll probably sign someone none of us have thought of.

If we did sign Benteke, then Fellaini would probably be expendable but still valuable if we need to protect a lead or something.

 

[Striker10]

The role I see Fellaini occupying after our midfield upgrade is a target option off the bench when we can't pass through teams, Benteke may have a bit more to him but ostensibly that is how I see him being used as well.



The thing is we aren't selling Fellaini and Benteke has no potential to unseat Rooney or be our next main #9, so it just seems a waste of money and time, we could have gotten Bacca cheaper for the exact same role.

Bacca though is entering his prime and would want to play, you'd think. It's impossible to make the statements you are making unless you're mystic meg. Your mind is closed so what is the point? Saha was a great player but I don't think many envisaged him putting Ruud on the bench. Likewise, you just never know how a player will will fair.

 

[Devil may care]

I have to admit DMC, that i'm warming to the idea of signing him. I think he can step up to our level & he's always been a pain in the arse against us over the last few years - something that would benefit us against our rivals.

Some of those essay sized posts with power point presentations surprised me, I thought he must have morphed into Marco Van Basten!

I just don't see it mate, to me we either need to slap our plums in the blender and go for a striker capable of usurping Rooney as #1 and being our new long term striker, or we buy a cheaper stop-gap who sits on the bench and we revisit the striker market next season. Benteke doesn't fit into either category IMO.

If we buy Benteke, we should sell Fellaini.

Fair enough but there have been no signs of us intending to sell him.

 

[Organic Potatoes]

LVG wants to win the league, our strikers scored 30 goals between the four of them, two have since left, bollox to a cheap option who can do a decent job, we need a top striker to contribute a sackful of goals.

Yeah, any lengthy injury to Rooney (or even poor form) as it stands, and we'd be toast. It's why I wouldn't mind this transfer even though it's not ideal.

 

[Striker10]

Some of those essay sized posts with power point presentations surprised me, I thought he must have morphed into Marco Van Basten!

I just don't see it mate, to me we either need to slap our plums in the blender and go for a striker capable of usurping Rooney as #1 and being our new long term striker, or we buy a cheaper stop-gap who sits on the bench and we revisit the striker market next season. Benteke doesn't fit into either category IMO.



Fair enough but there have been no signs of us intending to sell him.

Who replaces Rooney then if our only reconized striker get's injured? Someone you would say that probably has no future at the club?

 

[Devil may care]

Bacca though is entering his prime and would want to play you'd think. It's impossible to make the statements you are making unless your mystic meg. Your mind is closed so what is the point?

I think Bacca would have liked the much bigger wages we pay than Milan and been happy to be a back up here personally, I mean he left a team in Sevilla that are in much better shape than Milan just to get more money. How are my opinions on Benteke any different to those enthusing about how great he is and how much he'd add?

 

[Devil may care]

Who replaces Rooney then if our only reconized striker get's injured? Someone you would say that probably has no future at the club?

This is a question to pose if I was saying we shouldn't buy a striker, which is not what I am saying.

 

[Striker10]

Because you say that basically there is absolutely no possibility he could prove you wrong. It's not a fan club btw and who ever we end up with? We just hope they can do a job.

 

[hebegebe]

I get that but I don't consider him a top striker, I don't think he ever will be either. If we're going down that route, I'd prefer someone else.

I wasn't really talking about Benteke, more the point that we don't need a cheap backup, we need a proven top class striker who can contribute lots of goals, but there aren't many around that are potentially available.

I don't have an opinion on Benteke, I haven't seen him play enough, however, he's young and has a good scoring record in the Prem.

 

[JPRouve]

Bacca though is entering his prime and would want to play, you'd think. It's impossible to make the statements you are making unless you're mystic meg. Your mind is closed so what is the point? Saha was a great player but I don't think many envisaged him putting Ruud on the bench. Likewise, you just never know how a player will will fair.

At 29 in two months Bacca is finishing his prime.

 

[Striker10]

Well you never know Jp I think in Italy, the pace will see him do well for the next 2-3 seasons

 

[Oo0AahCantona]

Main thing is, you know villa sell for 30m. He's somebody you can just phone up villa and go We want bentekkas on deadline day or whatever.

 

[Red_toad]

No, we know Shearer has the most premier league goals. That isn't the same thing as being the best striker...

Shearer would fit our system perfectly & in his day he was one of a player. Best player of his type for me in the Premiership era. Shame he played on so long & tarnished how good he actually was with his last few seasons.

 

[Devil may care]

Because you say that basically there is absolutely no possibility he could prove you wrong. It's not a fan club btw and who ever we end up with? We just hope they can do a job.

I am giving a view that I don't see him ever being good enough to be the main man at a club like United, do I need to preface that with "IMO" or something similar? I don't think all of the posts saying how great he would be are also adding in that he may not be anywhere near good enough.

 

[gooDevil]

At 29 in two months Bacca is finishing his prime.

I was told Schweinsteiger, when he turns 31, will be in his prime.

So yeah, idk.

 

[Striker10]

Yes ...IMO... and you cannot prove it. It's a blanket statement that has no validity If we bought him and you were proven right? This conversation never happened lol

 

[Devil may care]

Yes ...IMO... and you cannot prove it. It's a blanket statement that has no validity

I am guessing this is still aimed at me, no one can prove he'd be any good for us he either, I don't notice you taking issue with them.

 

[Striker10]

It's just one of those things. It's not a personal attack. I think more people would agree with you but we'll see what happens.

 

[JPRouve]

I was told Schweinsteiger, when he turns 31, will be in his prime.

So yeah, idk.

He is a striker, there is a study about that somewhere, strikers are the first to enter their prime and the first to decline, but to be fair players like Bacca, Drogba or Jackson Martinez entered in their prime later than usual which most of the time allow them to play 1 or 2 more years.

iirc the order is, Strikers/Wingers, midfielders, defenders, goalkeepers.

 

[Sandikan]

I was told Schweinsteiger, when he turns 31, will be in his prime.

So yeah, idk.

This "Prime" talk is utter bollocks, and depends completely on the individual.

Owen was an absolute ghost of his best by 25, yet Pirlo has never played better than his mid 30s.

 

[Igor Drefljak]

Lacazette would be my first choice: Reasonable price, pacey, scored goals, young

After that, obviously getting Muller or Lewandowski would be a preferred choice for me, but then if you look past them, Benteke isn't that bad as an option.
He has proven he can do it in the prem, especially at a low end side, he's still only 24 himself, he gives power and height in attack. He can hold the ball up well, and for his size, has a decent amount of pace.

I'd much rather him over Cavani, Kane at the price he'd go for and many others

 

[ghagua]

People concentrate too much on what a player cannot do instead what he can do, Benteke is a good player who can stick the ball in the net. There are 3 strikers who we can potentially get, Benteke, Lacazette and Berahino. I would be happy with any one of the 3. We are not getting Lewandowski from Bayern, neither are we getting Muller, so the choices are very thin.

 

[Igor Drefljak]

Costa: 0.77
Aguero: 0.65
Kane: 0.53
RVP: 0.51
Benteke: 0.47
Alexis: 0.46
Rooney: 0.45
Remy: 0.43
Bony: 0.42
Giroud: 0.42
Sturridge: 0.38
Dzeko: 0.38
Hernandez: 0.36
Balotelli: 0.30
Welbeck: 0.21
Sterling: 0.19


********************

I'll just throw this in here. I took this lot from Wiki, so may not be 100%, but hey
(Goals per game in the prem, btw)

 

[LonelyFire]

No chance we will sign him. This looks like pathetic attempt by villa to hurry the scousers along....

 

[FC Ronaldo]

At £32.5m as a backup striker -

Do. Not. Want.

Hoping it's just rumour mongering to gas Liverpool up.

 

[Striker10]

Looks like we Hernandez will get his chance. Hopefully he get's back to fitness asap.

 

[Santiago_KinderBueno]

If Benteke was as good as Drogba was, or if people believed he had the potential to be, then you wouldn't find any objections to signing him on here.

I don't think he has it in him to be a regular fixture in a team aspiring for big trophies, that's my objection.

As i said i dont want benteke but at his age he has shown me thr same sort of promise that drogba gave at marseille.

 

[RedRover]

Some harsh criticism of the player on here I think.

It's perhaps naive to expect a massive name forward to come in. Rooney is Van Gaal's captain and will play. Given the money spent in midfield I only see him playing upfront. To that end I don't see that another striker is necessarily first choice.

Benteke has huge potential - if he can direct it. He's quick, strong, good in the air and can lead the line. If anyone can get the best out of him surely Van Gaal is the man? If he's the player he was at the back end of last year he could do very well.

Might be all rubbish but I wouldn't be surprised if Van Gaal fancies a project player.

 

[Lawman]

Hopeless, bit strong that mate?!

50 goals in 100 games for bottom half club is nothing to be sniffed at, what is it about him you don't like exactly?

Think he's cumbersome Bob and a bit slow on the uptake!

 

[Amadaeus]

He used to be my number 1 striking target that I hope we would get, but I can't see how we will incorporate another striker with the amount of midfielders we have. Moreover, a Fellaini/Benteke combination seems uncanny and anti-football.

We might be better of getting a subsidiary striker or keeping Hernandez.