would be willing to reduce asking price

Liverpool's pursuit of Christian Benteke has hit an impasse until Aston Villa give them an indication they will be prepared to drop their asking price from the £32.5million buy-out clause.

Anfield manager Brendan Rodgers is keen to bring in a new centre forward to boost their tally of 52 Premier League goals last season – the lowest total in the top-seven.

Benteke remains of interest but there has been no dialogue with Villa or bid and that is likely to remain the case unless the Midlands club show a willingness to reduce their valuation.

Christian Benteke might not be saying goodbye to Aston Villa if the club won't sell him for less than buy-out

Liverpool remain keen on the Belgium striker but are refusing to pay £32.5million for the 24-year-old

The Merseysiders looked at Sevilla's Carlos Bacca but he has agreed to join AC Milan after the Premier League side decided the whole package for the Colombian striker with transfer fee, wages and agents fee was too costly.

Rodgers now has to decide whether to revive his interest in Juventus forward Fernando Llorente who would be cheaper at around £10m but at the age of 30 is older than players that owner John W Henry usually pays transfer fees for.

The Liverpool boss is also an admirer of Manchester United's Javier Hernandez but the history between the two clubs makes that signing virtually impossible. No player has moved between them since the 1960s.

Liverpool have already been busy in the transfer market this summer and recruited Roberto Firmino, Danny Ings, James Milner, Adam Bogdan and Joe Gomez.

They will continue to look for other options up front while a deal for Benteke remains difficult.

Liverpool had looked at Carlos Bacca but the Sevilla striker has agreed to join AC Milan