West Bromwich Albion is setting its sights on Christian Benteke as they prepare to submit a bid for Liverpool's flop striker before the summer transfer window ends this month, according to latest reports.
SkySports reported that the Baggies have "entered the race to sign out-of-favor Liverpool striker" Benteke before the new season starts this week.
The 25-year-old forward has been a disappointment at the Anfield since he arrived last summer in a £32.5 million transfer from Aston Villa. Benteke had further dropped in the Reds attacking options after German manager Jürgen Klopp replaced the sacked Brendan Rodgers in the middle of last season.
Overall, Benteke had scored 10 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool last season, a bit of a let down from the 15-goal output he had in 34 games in all competitions for the Villans in the previous term.
In three seasons with Villa, Benteke netted a total of 49 goals in 101 games in all competitions and he was considered then as one of the most promising goalscorers in the English top flight.
The report mentioned that there are a "number of clubs to show interest in the striker ahead of the new season", but it remains to be seen whether Klopp is ready to sell the Belgium international.
Last month, fellow English Premier League side Crystal Palace had its £25 million offer for Benteke rejected by the Reds as the club deemed it not enough to recover what they spent for the Belgian attacker last year.
Meanwhile, Caught Offside indicated that Benteke is not "a great fit for the Reds and their style of play" and Klopp is eager to offload him. The German mentor seems to be just waiting for the right offer that would compensate the £32.5 million Liverpool expended for the player.
Meanwhile, West Brom manager Tony Pulis, who retained his head coaching position with the club despite the recent Chinese ownership takeover, had only one signing so far this summer, which was the £5.5 million acquisition of Scottish winger Matt Phillips from Football League Championship team Queens Park Rangers last month.
Liverpool will face Arsenal on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium to open their 2016-2017 Premier League campaign while West Brom is matched against Crystal Palace on Saturday at the Selhurst Park.
