Liverpool should scratch Sunderland’s itch with striker sale

Like an expensive ornament languishing in a loft, Liverpool striker Christian Benteke is gathering dust and should be moved on this summer.

A permanent sale that sees the Reds recoup some of the massive £32.5m outlay to acquire the Belgian’s services is clearly preferable for Jurgen Klopp and co.

However, after a season spent starved of game time, it’s perhaps understandable that those coveting Benteke’s signature, such as Crystal Palace previously, have been repelled by the £30m asking price.

It’s abundantly clear that among the rich attacking resources Klopp has at his disposal – that now include another centre-forward option in the shape of Sadio Mane – the former Aston Villa goal getter is probably fifth in the pecking order behind Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi, Danny Ings and the big-money Southampton import.

With Palace deterred, the latest development sees striker-lite duo Sunderland and Everton entering the frame.

Both the Black Cats and the Toffees relied too heavily upon Jermain Defoe and Romelu Lukaku’s Premier League contributions last season.

For respective new bosses of those clubs, David Moyes and Ronald Koeman, the prospect of adding Benteke to their ranks must be extremely attractive and the avenue of a loan deal has been mooted as an alternative in several reports.

With speculation that Everton’s record signing Lukaku craves a Goodison Park exit in favour of a return to Chelsea, the rumoured £75m windfall for his sale would clearly leave Koeman in the stronger position to match Liverpool’s demands.

But surely for Liverpool and Klopp, even a loan deal to the Stadium of Light would be preferable to seeing Benteke benefitting their city rivals’ cause.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.