I think we should save ourselves £30m and stick with Wickham. If things do not pan out then we could look at the situation again in the January window.I think Liverpool would be pretty anxious to do business then.

We've got to see this through now. If we switch targets we will now be held to ransom by the selling club who will know we have money to burn. Benteke is a quality player and by paying what they want may save us money in the long run. The thought of being asked 20m for someone like Shane Long could become a reality

I get the impression it's not a case of the amount of money for the fee, but the structure that Liverpool want it paid in....for them to indicate they want all the money up front in a lump sum is a little fanciful.

Like who? Troy Deeney at £25m? At the inflated value that there obviously is £30m is absolutely value for money so let's get it done!

And why would we wait until January? So Wicham gets injured in September (which on current form is highly likely) and is out for 6-8 weeks and then what?

It is a lot of money but if anyone knows of any other 25 year old strikers with over a hundred Premier League (or comparable) appearances and fifty goals for less money then we would all like to know.

As someone had already said, if Troy deeney is worth 25 mil at almost 30 years old then benteke is deffinately worth 30. He is the best realistic option available.

We actually a couple of strikers and a creative midfielder. There's no way we should risk going into next season with just Wickham and Campbell.

Bexley Dave

Can you hear the Brighton sing? I can't hear a ******* thing!

"The most arrogant, obnoxious bunch of deluded little sun tanned, loafer wearing mummy's boys I've ever had the misfortune of having to listen to" (Burnley forum)

People doubting whether or not Benteke is the right choice for the money!!! -.-' -.-' -.-'

In todays market and high prices he is the 'perfect' addition to the squad. No brainer ... and just hope we do what is needed to get him on board. It's our 4th season in the premiership and this is exactly the sort of player we have to buy! Simple!

We absolutely 100% can not enter the season with just Wickham and Campbell as strikers.

It would be suicide given the recent injury history of one and the .... general cr@pness/failure to reach Premier league status of the other.

Dwight Gayle is worth £10m according to Newcastle. So any signing is going to have to be in the £15m+ mark. And even then - I haven't seen any available at that sort of price that would suit us or be able to deliver.

Benteke is a proven premier league player. Who has had one poor season at Liverpool when played in a style that does not fit him and when he was regularly used as backup. He has scored over 50 league goals in around 120 appearances in the league. So even after a poor season at Liverpool his average is still not far off 1 in 2. He is a class act.

If we can afford him - and that's down to the board to determine - then it should be a deal we pursue relentlessly.

"It's almost like a moral decision. Except not really cos noone is going to find out," Jez, Peep Show

This is what concerns me slightly, someone like West Ham nicking in and getting him at the last minute.

I can't help but feel there's a last minute twist to this transfer