Transfer update: ‘Christian Benteke will be a Liverpool player by the end of next week’

Tony Evans, The Times' Football Editor, claims Liverpool will finalise a deal for Christian Benteke 'by the end of next week'.

The Reds have triggered the £32.5million release clause in the Aston Villa striker's contract and are negotiating payment terms with their Premier League rivals.

And Evans says it is just a matter of time before the Belgian seals his switch, telling Saturday Scoreboard: "I am almost certain that this is going to happen.

"Brendan Rodgers really wants the player and the club are going to back him.

"The medical will be early next week and he will be a Liverpool player by the end of next week."