Liverpool Transfer News: Christian Benteke Eyed by West Ham Amid Palace Rumours

West Ham United could potentially "hijack" Crystal Palace's reported pursuit of Liverpool's Christian Benteke.

That's according to an exclusive from the Sun's Daniel Cutts, who noted the Hammers are interested in the Belgian and his camp are believed to be holding discussions with the club "this week."

Per Cutts, an unnamed West Ham source said:

It’s hard to do business with Liverpool because they always want big numbers and the player’s personal terms are high.

He is not at the top of our list but we continue to monitor the situation. It’s all a bit of a game really.

Everybody knows who is interested including the player and the agents, but although we are interested there are several other irons in the fire.

Per the Sun's James Orr, Palace were preparing to make a sensational £31.5 million bid for the striker—just £1 million less than Liverpool paid for him last year.

Liverpool writer Dave O'Connell said it would be excellent for all parties:

The 25-year-old struggled to make the grade at Anfield, netting just nine Premier League goals last season.

Further, he isn't a player who fits particularly well in Reds manager Jurgen Klopp's energetic, high-intensity pressing system, which requires speed and mobility.

The Mirror's Ed Malyon and the Times' Tony Barrett believe a move to Selhurst Park could reignite his career:

Indeed, despite his failure to convince at Liverpool, Benteke has shown he can be a prolific goalscorer.

Only Roberto Firmino outscored him for the Reds in the Premier League last season, and as he made just 14 starts, his scoring record is slightly better than it appears.

At former club Aston Villa, he netted 49 goals in 101 appearances—which is not only an impressive record in a team that largely struggled during his time there, but it also shows his potential to thrive when used correctly.

WhoScored.com revealed the extent of his aerial prowess:

The Hammers could also make use of him. While they're no longer as direct as they were under former manager Sam Allardyce, there's still a place for a tall, physical centre-forward, as Andy Carroll has shown.

As for the Reds, if they can recoup the majority of the fee they spent on Carroll, it will represent an excellent bit of business and will allow them to better recover from their mistaken purchase of him.

Christian Benteke opens up on Liverpool plans: I’ll leave if Jurgen Klopp doesn’t play me

LIVERPOOL striker Christian Benteke is ready to leave Anfield - but only if he is not part of Jurgen Klopp’s plans.

The 25-year-old endured a difficult debut campaign on Merseyside, despite making 42 appearances in all competitions.

After signing from Aston Villa in a £32.5million deal, he netted just 10 goals and his comptriot Divock Origi was preferred during Daniel Sturridge’s injury absence.

And now the Belgium international has spoken out about his future plans as he builds up to Euro 2016.

"At 25 years old, I'm neither old nor young but it's important to play," said Benteke at a press conference.

"I still have a contract at Liverpool and I'd like to stay there, if I remain in the coach's plans.

"If that's not the case, it will become difficult to stay. I'll think about if after the Euros."

Benteke was also keen to reflect on his first season at Liverpool.

"I was prepared for what I went through," he said. 

"I knew that if I had mixed performances I would be criticised. That's what happened.

"When he [Klopp] arrived, I saw that I wasn't in his plans. That was frustrating because I knew that during my first season at Aston Villa he wanted me.

"But we had several discussions together -- I respect and I understand his decisions."

Klopp is thought to be mulling over a move for Jamie Vardy and Benteke may have his future decided for him if the Reds boss needs to free up funds to snare the Leicester star ahead of Arsenal.

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.