Liverpool preparing bid for Christian Benteke as Kolo Toure and Andre Wisdom extend contracts

Christian Benteke

Liverpool, May 27 (IANS)

English football club Liverpool is preparing to rope in Aston Villa's Christian Benteke after the FA Cup final on Saturday, while their defenders Kolo Touré and Andre Wisdom have signed contract extensions despite having played very little football under manager Brendan Rodgers.

Liverpool have targeted Benteke as they believe he will be the answer to their lack of goal scorers with Rodgers having lost faith in Daniel Sturridge's ability to stay fit for an entire campaign, theguardian.com reported on Wednesday.

“It's simple, we need more of a scoring threat,” Rodgers had said in April.

Benteke has scored 15 goals in 32 appearances this season.

Touré, the former Ivory Coast international, would have been out of contract this summer and had received offers from several European clubs but has agreed on a new 12-month contract.

Wisdom, who spent the last English Premier League (EPL) campaign on loan at West Bromwich Albion, has committed his future to Liverpool until 2019.

The deal with Wisdom underlines Rodgers view that the former is seen as one who will have a long-term future at the club despite being sent out on loan to gain more EPL experience last season.