Christian Benteke Continues to Be Linked with Chelsea Move

With Christian Benteke reportedly no longer on West Ham United's radar, a surprising link that popped up earlier in the month continues to persist. Chelsea appear to have a firm interest in the unfavoured Liverpool striker, and what's particularly intriguing about this is that it's to play regularly up front with another striker.

That's what a report in the Times claims, pinpointing Antonio Conte's desire to play two strikers in either a 3-3-4 or 4--4-2 formation next season. Benteke has already admitted that it will be difficult to remain at Liverpool with limited opportunities to play, but even if such a move came to pass, would the Belgian international play regularly at Chelsea? The rumour, however, doesn't seem entirely implausible.

The 25-year-old's considerable wages wouldn't be a problem for Chelsea to match, while Liverpool could reasonably expect to recoup a decent amount of the £32.5 million paid to secure the striker from Aston Villa. Everything about Benteke's unsuitability for Jürgen Klopp's has been discussed widely, but Liverpool haven't received an offer for the striker as yet.

Benteke's goal return for Liverpool wasn't terrible in the Premier League with nine goals in 29 appearances. Like Liverpool, Chelsea will be focused using the absence of European football to concentrate on a serious push in Premier League next season. The Times is one of the more reliable newspapers on football transfers and rumours, which means that Chelsea could be looking at Benteke as an option. Time will tell as to whether any interest translates into an offer of some kind in the coming months.