Christian Benteke is officially a Liverpool player but it’s a signing that has divided Liverpool fans
Why, though? Here are eight reasons why Reds fans should be pleased to see another big-money arrival at Anfield.
1. It’s a show of faith in the manager
Brendan Rodgers’ future looked to be in doubt at the end of last season, with the 6-1 final-day drubbing at Stoke appearing to be the final straw. But owners FSG have instead doubled down on their manager, who most likely cited factors outside of his control, such as the injury to Daniel Sturridge and the unwanted signing of Mario Balotelli, as contributing to Liverpool’s poor campaign. Next summer he can have no such complaints, as it increasingly looks like the club are doing things his way this window, with Benteke and James Milner his key transfer targets and a change in coaching staff coming apparently at his behest. Whether fans agree with the moves or not, there is no doubt that unity of purpose is vital to any club’s success.
2. They are spending the Sterling money
Liverpool have had net annual transfer spends of around £30million during the FSG era and the £49million sale of Raheem Sterling (less QPR’s sizeable chunk) means that even with Benteke added to Liverpool’s earlier signings the club will once again be in that ballpark this summer. Yet given that, in £29million Roberto Firmino, the Reds already appear to have purchased a ready-made replacement for Sterling, would anyone have been surprised if the club had held firm on their original valuation of Benteke and ended up with another last-minute Balotelli instead…?
3. And acting decisively
…which leads to our next point – meeting Benteke’s release clause is another instance of Liverpool acting decisively in the market this summer, a welcome change from the dithering and penny-pinching which cost the club in recent windows. Yes, they could have argued the toss over five or six million and dragged it out until the season was already well under way, but now their key items of business are done and Benteke has plenty of time to bed in with his new team-mates before what will be a crucial opening few games of the new season for the club.
4. He’s big, can head the ball and cost in excess of £30million, but that’s where the Andy Carroll comparisons end
It’s doesn’t take long for the naysayers to bring up the pony-tailed ex-Newcastle striker, but while Carroll lacked the mobility to fit in at Anfield, Benteke is a far better all-around player, with more pace, better touch and the ability to score off either foot. Oh, and he is pretty decent at finding the net, which, in case Liverpool fans have forgotten, was a bit of an issue last year.
5. The transfer fee will likely look less outlandish in two years’ time
£32.5million is a lot of money but there’s a growing sense that football is at the beginning of another spell of massive transfer inflation as the latest bumper Premier League TV deal filters through to the market. Clubs across Europe know fine well that English sides can pay that little bit more and the large deals for Benteke, Sterling and Morgan Schneiderlin are likely to become the the baseline for established top-level talents. Liverpool have been smart about getting as much business as possible done early, before this fact became evident, and hoped to negotiate a lower price with Villa, but once they successfully held out for their asking price on Sterling, there was no way they could continue to haggle over Benteke’s release clause.
6. Let’s face it, who else were they going to get?
Liverpool had one window to shop at the top table last summer and they ended up with Mario Balotelli as the window came to a close. The absence of Champions League football this time around means Europe’s elite players likely had better offers, with Memphis Depay signing for rivals Manchester United and another potential striking target, Luciano Vietto, joining Atletico Madrid from Villarreal. Carlos Bacca chose AC Milan. Alexandre Lacazette seems to be staying at Lyon. Liverpool have already added ‘potential’ this summer in the form of Benteke’s international team-mate Origi, so needed a more developed player and Benteke fits that bill.
7. The ‘fewest crosses’ statistic is something of a red herring
Plenty of people have suggested the fact that Liverpool supplied the fewest crosses of any Premier League team last season means Benteke won’t fit his new club’s style of play or that they will irreparably damage their own system by adapting to their new frontman.
The numbers don’t lie, but conveniently ignore two facts: 1) Only a third of Benteke’s 15 goals last season came from crosses in open play, and 2) Would you be launching an endless supply of high balls into the box when the line is being led by the hefty 5ft 7in frame of Raheem Sterling?
8. Maybe Borini will finally get the message
Fabio Borini’s refusal to join Sunderland last year in an admirable but ultimately low percentage effort to fight for his Anfield place not only cost Liverpool a £14million transfer fee but also around £2.5million in wages. The Italian is not without talent and has a bright future, just not at Liverpool, who will now be happy to get half the fee agreed with the Mackems last summer. Borini isn’t the only one surplus to requirements now Benteke has joined Sturridge, Ings and Origi, with Balotelli and Rickie Lambert also set to be shipped out.
