Reds ready tempting Borini and Lambert swap deal for Benteke
Liverpool are continuing their pursuit of Aston Villa frontman Christian Benteke this summer, but are audaciously set to offer Anfield misfits Fabio Borini and Rickie Lamabert in exchange for the Belgium international, rather than paying a reported £32.5m fee required to secure his services.
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers had previously been reported to have Sevilla’s clinical Colombian Carlos Bacca on his radar to boost attacking ranks ahead of next season’s Premier League campaign, but in-form Benteke would provide plenty of firepower and invaluable top-flight experience to the red half of Merseyside.
Liverpool, who are 5/2 with Coral for a top four finish next term, have already snapped up versatile England international James Milner, Brazil starlet Roberto Firmino, former Burnley striker Danny Ings and promising defender Joe Gomez from Charlton Athletic, but Benteke could be the next piece of the puzzle for Rodgers.
With the Anfield outfit having begun their business very early in this summer’s transfer window, Belgian attacker Benteke could become another talented arrival and finally somewhat fill the massive void left by the departure of Luis Suarez to Barcelona.
Last campaign, Benteke endured a tough start under former Villa boss Paul Lambert, but the arrival of Tim Sherwood saw him recapture the unstoppable form which ultimately kept his side in the top-flight, striking 15 times in all competitions, including 13 league goals.
Sherwood has previously admitted defeat in potentially losing his star forward, but the prospect of seeing two experienced Premier League strikers arrive in place of the Belgian could be too tempting to resist, despite both Borini and Lambert having endured torrid Anfield spells.
Borini impressed during his loan stint with Sunderland in the 2013/14 campaign, dispatching seven times in 32 top tier outings to keep the Black Cats up, while Lambert was on fire for Southampton before his switch of allegiances, but both only managed three league goals combined last season.
Although, Sherwood has proved in the past he is capable of nurturing the talents of underperforming strikers, his most recent case being Benteke, but the former Tottenham coach also worked wonders with previous Spurs forward Emmanuel Adebayor, albeit for a brief period at White Hart Lane.
Such a swap deal could prove to be beneficial for both Liverpool and Villa, with Sherwood receiving an immediate bolster of his attacking ranks once Benteke possibly departs, and the Reds obtaining a proven Premier League hitman, as they aim to recover from last term (10/1 to win FA Cup).
