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Liverpool have resumed talks with Aston Villa over Christian Benteke but have been warned there will be no deal unless the £32.5 million buy-out clause is triggered.
Benteke remains Liverpool's primary striker target this summer and dialogue between the two clubs has reopened after Raheem Sterling was sold to Manchester City.
Villa are adamant that they will not accept any offers below the figure written into the Belgium international's contract but Liverpool hold reservations about the valuation, which has led to an impasse.
Tim Sherwood, the Villa manager, insists Benteke will be staying unless Liverpool pay the required fee but it is widely anticipated that Liverpool will step up their pursuit of the 24-year-old in the next few days.
Sherwood said: "If someone matches that buy-out clause there is nothing we can do about it, but until that happens he is an Aston Villa player and we are all very pleased about that.
"Liverpool have six or seven strikers at the club so I'm not sure how many more they actually need.
"We know Christian is a very good player and we want to keep hold of him.
"It's out of our control because if somebody bids that money, Christian Benteke leaves the football club.
"But we hope he doesn't, we hope nobody bids that money and we hope he doesn't want to go. We hope he knuckles down and we can build something fresh, which is what we're trying to achieve here."
Source: Telegraph
http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/media-watch/telegraph-reds-back-in-for-benteke