Transfer News: Liverpool striker Christian Benteke set to join Arsenal in summer

Liverpool striker Christian Benteke could join Arsenal in the summer, according to the latest transfer rumours.

Benteke’s days in Anfield are numbered and the Belgian international is widely speculated to leave Liverpool at the end of the season after seemingly losing his role with the club since Jurgen Klopp arrived in October. According to Spanish football gossip site Fichajes, Arsenal appears the ideal destination for the 25-year-old, with the Gunners struggling to score goals in their recent outings.

Benteke has not played a minute in the club’s last three games and was also an unused sub in Liverpool’s 1-3 League Cup final loss against Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday despite being the Reds’ top scorer this season. But Klopp has insisted that Benteke’s trip to the bench in recent games was due to the Belgian striker not being in the “best moment of his career.”

“Christian wasn’t in the best moment of his career four or five weeks ago. It was obvious,” Klopp said, reports the Daily Star. “It is not a decision for the future, it is only a decision for now.”

According to The Sun, Klopp is plotting a major overhaul at Liverpool this summer in an attempt to put the English club back into the Premier League title picture. Benteke, who joined Liverpool from Aston Villa for a £32.5 million (around AU $62 million) transfer last summer, has been rumoured to be the “main casualty” of the German’s summer plans, with Divock Origi, Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Firmino all leading the line for the Reds.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have also joined the race to sign Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez, who has been heavily linked to Premier League rival Manchester United. According to Spanish media outlet AS, the Gunners are the latest to declare interest at the 21-year-old Saul, who has a £34.7 million (around AU $66.4 million) release clause in his contract with Atletico.