Liverpool Transfer News: Latest on Christian Benteke and Marko Grujic Rumours

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has closed the book on any chances Christian Benteke could leave Anfield this winter. Plus, the German is close to sealing his first Anfield signing in the form of Red Star Belgrade youngster Marko Grujic.  

Benteke came on as a substitute in Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Watford, leading to intensified speculation of a January move to Chelsea, but Klopp ruled such gossip as little more than rumour, per Goal.com's Melissa Reddy:

If you lose the game, everyone is allowed to ask why this and this player didn’t play. You never ask after a win. Maybe it was not the best decision, but we will never find out. But today I decided first for Firmino, then for Origi, then for Christian - it’s up to the player to change this.

If it’s the same probability of all the other transfer rumours that I’ve heard since I’ve been here, then I’m cool. The things I’ve read so far are nil per cent true. I don’t know. I’ve never heard about this.

Chelsea were one of the clubs attached to Benteke before he left Aston Villa for Liverpool this past summer in a £32.5 million deal, the second-largest fee ever paid by the Merseysiders for a player.

It therefore stands to reason the Blues could execute an early Anfield exit for Benteke, considering they'd be able to afford his transfer and could be in line for drastic changes this January.

There is still some debate as to how Benteke fits in on Merseyside, particularly with the more mobile likes of Daniel Sturridge and Belgian compatriot Divock Origi looking to cement their places in Klopp's XI.

Football writer Nik Postinger highlighted Klopp's decision to start Roberto Firmino up front against Watford instead of Benteke as indication of his opinion on the former Villa ace:

Benteke has four goals in 14 Premier League appearances for the Reds this season, but Reddy pointed out Liverpool's scoring record when he's off of the pitch as being superior to their scoring record with him starting.

That being said, it seems highly unlikely the English giants would give up on their mega-money investment so easily, especially with Klopp still getting settled in his Liverpool surroundings—not to mention with the squad itself.

On the inbound list, there is news Liverpool will sign Grujic in a £5 million deal, pending a medical, later this week, according to James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo, who claimed a five-year contract has been agreed.

Reddy provided a glimpse at Grujic's 2015-16 statistics, claiming the player will shun competition as big as Italian giants Inter to join Klopp's uprising in England:

Liverpool will pay £5 million (€7 million) for the 19-year-old central midfielder, but Red Star Belgrade will receive £730,000 (€1 million) of that fee back so Grujic can remain in Serbia on loan for the remainder of the season.

Pearce added that Klopp's personal intervention in the deal was a key influence in luring Grujic to Anfield, a move that's sure to go down well with fans as the manager continues his hands-on approach to the game.