Liverpool target Christian Benteke to meet Tim Sherwood with intention to leave Aston Villa

Christian Benteke wants to play for a club that plays in the top half of the league

Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke is reportedly set to meet with Tim Sherwood at the club’s training ground on Wednesday and tell the boss that he wants to leave the club, as per The Guardian. The Aston Villa squad is due to leave for Portugal on Thursday for a pre-season tour and the striker would ideally be making his wishes known well before that.

Liverpool have been constantly linked with the striker throughout this summer as Brendan Rodgers looks to shore up his strikeforce for next season. Aston Villa are, however, insistent that the Reds must pay Benteke’s release clause – £32.5million to have any chance of signing him.

The 24-year-old wants to play for a club that fights for titles, after spending three seasons with Aston Villa, who narrowly avoided relegation last season. He still has two years remaining in his contract and Aston Villa are thought to be relaxed about the entire situation.

Sherwood confident Benteke will stay at Aston Villa

Tim Sherwood is confident that his striker will remain at Villa Park next season and regards him as an important player for the club. There is also a general consensus within the club that if Benteke stays he can play regularly for The Villans and, in turn, earn his place in Belgium’s squad for the 2016 European Championship.

“We want Christian here," Sherwood told Sky Sports: "We want to keep our best players and Christian is certainly one of those.”

The striker joined Aston Villa in August 2012 on a four-year deal from Belgian side Genk. He has since played 100 times for the club and has scored 49 goals. The second half of the 2014/15 season, particularly, was an impressive phase for him as he managed to score 12 goals in the last three months of the campaign.

Benteke would be an excellent signing for Liverpool: Robbie Fowler

Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler believes that the Belgian striker would be a welcome addition to the Liverpool squad and that he could turn out to be their star player.

“It’s important we get a proven goalscorer and of the names being bandied about I’d go for Benteke. I think he’s excellent," Fowler told the Liverpool Echo.

“I know there are other top strikers out there and probably more prolific scorers. But in terms of all-round play – strength, speed, physicality, finishing – I think Benteke could be the main man for Liverpool.”