Besiktas ready to offer Liverpool striker £21.1m Anfield escape

Besiktas are reportedly ready to offer Liverpool £21.1 million for out-of-favour striker Christian Benteke, according to Haber 7 (in Turkish), via the Daily Express.

It is understood that the two clubs are in talks over a move for the Belgium international, who is keen to leave Anfield this summer in search of regular first-team football, but the Turkish giants are unwilling to pay the £30 million asking price.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp said on Sunday: “Everyone knows about it. Christian has already said maybe it makes sense to go to another club. Christian is still a really great striker.”

Besiktas are unlikely to go above their current bid of £21.1 million for the 25-year-old, who moved to the Merseyside outfit from Aston Villa last summer for £32.5 million, and could instead propose a loan deal.

The Belgian, who is also believed to be a target for Premier League side Crystal Palace, made 42 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool last term – with most of those coming from the substitutes’ bench – scoring 10 goals.