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Liverpool have agreed a 32.5 million pounds deal with Aston Villa for striker Christian Benteke, British media said Liverpool have agreed to sign striker Christian Benteke from Premier League rivals Aston Villa for £32.5 million, the BBC and other British media organisations reported yesterday.
The 24-year-old Belgium international is now due to have a medical, with Liverpool’s club doctor set to return home from the team’s pre-season tour of Australia to conduct proceedings.
It is not expected, however, that Benteke himself will join the tour.
The forward arrived at Villa from Genk in a £7 million move in 2012 and has since scored 49 goals in 101 appearances for the Birmingham club.
His 12 goals in as many games last season played a key role in helping Villa avoid relegation from the lucrative top flight of English football.
Liverpool went to sign Benteke, who still has two years left on his Villa contract, after off-loading forward Raheem Sterling to Manchester City for a record fee between English Premier League clubs that could rise to as much as £49 million.ported on Sunday.
The 24-year-old Belgian international will undergo a medical by Tuesday and is unlikely to join his new team on their current tour of Australia, the BBC reported.
Liverpool club doctor will leave the tour of Australia and fly back to Britain to conduct his medical, the report said.
Since joining Aston Villa from Genk in 2012, Benteke has scored 49 goals in 101 appearances, helping the team avoid relegation last season.
Liverpool made the bid for Benteke after selling Raheem Sterling to Manchester City for a record fee of 49 million pounds.
Meanwhile, Manchester City completed the signing of talented youngster Patrick Roberts from Championship side Fulham yesterday, the Premier League club announced.
The 18-year-old, who has represented England at Under-16, Under-17 and Under-19 levels, made his Fulham debut against City in 2014 and made 22 appearances for the London side.
Roberts, a forward or winger, arrives at the Etihad Stadium for a fee reported to be in the region of 11 million pounds ($17.1 million).
“Manchester City are delighted to announce the signing of @patrick7roberts from @FulhamFC,” the club said on their official twitter feed.
Roberts becomes City’s third English signing within the last five days following the arrivals of internationals Raheem Sterling and Fabian Delph as clubs look to adhere to Premier League rules demanding clubs have eight home-grown players.
City, who finished second in the Premier League last season, began the close season with just goalkeepers Joe Hart and Richard Wright and defender Gael Clichy meeting the criteria. — AFP.
Online Reporter