Liverpool dismiss Benteke £30m bid

LIVERPOOL have rejected a £30million bid from Premier League rivals Crystal Palace for Christian Benteke. Palace offered £23m up front and £7m in add-ons, but Liverpool believe the bonus payments proposed were unrealistic. Liverpool have been resolute in their demands to recoup the £32.5m they paid Aston Villa for Benteke last summer and want more guaranteed payments as part of any deal. The 25-year-old Belgium striker endured a mixed campaign for Liverpool last season, scoring 10 times in 42 games in all competitions. One of those goals was a late winner from the penalty spot in a 2-1 win against Palace at Selhurst Park. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been alerted that Borussia Dortmund’s 17-year-old winger Christian Pulisic is reconsidering his future and may be prepared to leave the German club this summer. The USA international enjoyed a breakout season last term, becoming the youngest player to score twice in the Bundesliga and the youngest to play for USA in a World Cup qualifier. In May he became the youngest player to score for the USA, too. He made 12 club appearances last season but the arrivals of Ousmane Dembele, Mario Gotze and Andre Schurrle have pushed him down the pecking order in Dortmund. He is worried his first-team chances will be restricted this season and could be interested in joining Liverpool and linking up with Klopp, who was manager of Borussia Dortmund when Pulisic signed in 2015. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s Merseyside rivals Everton have renewed their interest in Newcastle’s £35million-rated Moussa Sissoko. However, the France midfielder is also wanted by Inter Milan, Juventus, Real Madrid and Crystal Palace.