Use your head like Sadio and subscribe to the Liverpool FC newsletter Sign me up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Liverpool FC transfer target Christian Benteke will be offered a new contract at Aston Villa this summer, according to the Midlands club’s chief executive.

Tom Fox claims he is “fairly certain” the striker will remain at Villa Park, despite the Reds’ interest.

Liverpool have identified the 24-year-old as someone who can help solve their goalscoring issues, but have been put off by suggestions Villa will ask for in excess of £30m for the Belgian.

They value Benteke closer to the £20m mark but Fox, speaking at the Sports Industry Breakfast Club on Wednesday, confirmed that Villa would be offering their top scorer a new contract in the coming weeks.

He said: “We will offer Christian Benteke a new deal this summer, of course we will.”

Benteke scored 15 times for Villa last season, helping preserve their Premier League status. He was on target against Liverpool in their FA Cup semi final win at Wembley, but was left disappointed as Villa were thrashed by Arsenal in the final last month.

Speaking recently, the former Genk man revealed his ambition to play in the Champions League in the future.

“My agent knows my ambition,” he said. “I want to play in the Champions League. That’s a dream and my ambition.

“It’s about [my agent]. He knows what I want and I’ll let him do the job. I don’t think about Aston Villa now.

“I did my season with Villa and now I am focused with the national team.”

Benteke is expected to feature in Belgium’s crucial Euro 2016 qualifier with Wales this weekend. He has scored seven goals in 21 appearances for his country.

The best Reds' coverage EVERY day in our LFC channel