If ever a club should listen to a former player about who they should sign, they may want to sit up and listen to what Anfield legend Robbie Fowler has to say about signing a new striker, and his opinion of Aston Villa front-man Christian Benteke.
Over the past few weeks Liverpool has been heavily linked with the Belgium international, but it is Aston Villa’s massive £32.5 million buyout clause that has stopped them from signing the physically dominating forward.
When talking about Liverpool’s lack of goals last season and how Benteke could help remedy it Fowler said: ‘We didn’t have anyone who scored 10 Premier League goals last year and I can’t remember the last time that happened at Liverpool.’
‘It’s important we get a proven goal-scorer and of the names being bandied about I’d go for Benteke. I think he’s excellent.’
The 24-year-old Villa striker has scored 49 goals in 101 appearances for the Midlands club since joining them from Genk in 2012, and despite his huge buyout clause which would make him Liverpool’s second highest ever signing, Fowlers says he would not hesitate in paying the money.
‘That’s for the clubs to sort out,’ he added.
‘A big thing is made out of the price but that’s doesn’t concern me. If a player is good enough, he’s good enough and I believe Benteke is.
‘I can’t stress enough how important it is that we get a forward like that – someone to make the pitch big. It’s vital for us because it brings others into the game.’
