LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 19, 2015: Aston Villa's Christian Benteke celebrates scoring the first equalising goal against Liverpool during the FA Cup Semi-Final match at Wembley Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Christian Benteke is “Liverpool’s No. 1 target” this summer

Liverpool’s number one target this summer is Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke, according to reports in Wednesday’s newspapers.

LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 19, 2015: Aston Villa's Christian Benteke celebrates scoring the first equalising goal against Liverpool during the FA Cup Semi-Final match at Wembley Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Reports across all the national papers say Liverpool will bid for the 24-year-old Belgian after the FA Cup final.

The Telegraph‘s Chris Bascombe adds that “Manchester United are also believed to be monitoring Benteke’s situation, as his signature looks to be one of the most sought after in the next transfer window.”

Benteke scored 12 goals in the last 12 games of the season for Villa, the same amount as the whole of the Liverpool side managed in their final 12 games of the campaign.

He has two years remaining on his Villa contract and Liverpool are “hopeful that an offer of more than £20 million will convince Villa to sell the Belgium forward, who Brendan Rodgers wants to become the new spearhead of his attack,” writes Tony Barrett in The Times.

Liverpool want to have Benteke, Danny Ings and James Milner signed ready for when the players return for pre-season.

Last summer Rodgers’ main targets were Southampton duo Dejan Lovren and Adam Lallana, spending £45 million on the pair.

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