Liverpool legend Dietmar Hamann says that if he had to he would be prepared to pay more than Aston Villa’s £32.5 million asking price for Belgium international striker Christian Benteke.
“I think he’s that good,” said the former Red-Man as Liverpool close in on bringing Benteke to Anfield.
Liverpool has triggered the 24-year-olds £32.5 million release clause at Aston Villa with all that’s left to do is for the big Belgium to complete a medical before moving to Merseyside.
Whether or not Benteke will fly out to join the club on their pre-season tour of Asia and Australia remains to be seen, but at the moment it is looking as though a medical and payment arrangements could see him not linking up with his new teammates until they are back in the U.K.
Former Reds midfielder Didi Hamann believes signing Christian Benteke will turn out to be a good move for Liverpool and that the 24-year-old will turn out to be a prolific goal scorer.
“I think Benteke is worth the money,” Hamann told the Liverpool Echo.
“Look at what kind of money is being paid for other attacking players – like the £49million Man City paid for Raheem Sterling.
“I think £32million is probably about right. In fact I would have paid a bit more for him because I think he’s that good.
“I’ve seen him terrorise defences and he gave Liverpool a torrid time at Wembley a few months ago.
“There are not many players out there who can play up front on their own.
“You have to be able to hold the ball up, score goals, occupy defenders and bring others into play. He does that. He’s an aerial threat, he has pace and he can finish. I think he’s tailor-made for Liverpool.
“Fingers crossed he does sign. There aren’t too many decent ones out there and last season showed how badly Liverpool needed another centre-forward.
“Of course Danny Ings and Divock Origi have also come in. But it would be asking a lot for them to play a leading role. I think the more pressure you take off them, the better they will do and the more goals they will score.
“Six or seven weeks ago things looked a bit bleak and fans were disillusioned. But my mood has certainly changed and I think a lot of the fans feel the same.
“I am very hopeful after the business that’s been done. If Benteke signs, things are looking pretty good.”
Unlike Mario Balotelli, Hamann believes that Benteke will have no trouble fitting in with Liverpool’s style of play.
“I think it’s unfair for anyone to compare him with the likes of Mario Balotelli and Andy Carroll,” Hamann said.
“I think he has a lot more to offer than those players.
“Benteke has scored a lot more goals and he’s a No 1 centre forward. His goals almost single handily kept Villa up.
“You need someone who can score 20 goals a season for you in the Premier League and Benteke can do that for Liverpool.
“With the service he will get from the likes of Firmino, Coutinho, Lallana and Markovic, I expect him to do very well.”
