Benteke Liverpool future plunged into fresh doubt after Klopp criticism

By Coral Barry

Christian Benteke has thrown his Liverpool career into jeopardy after the striker lashed out at Jurgen Klopp.

The 25-year-old, speaking to the Belgian press on Wednesday, launched a stinging attack on his manager for ignoring him at Liverpool.

The comments came just 24 hours after West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan said that the main thing stopping the Hammers from signing Benteke in the summer are his huge wages.

Benteke, who became the second most expensive signing in Liverpool history when he joined from Aston Villa for £32.5million last July, has hit out at Klopp for consistently banishing him to the bench.

"Some team-mates have said that I was lucky with the arrival of Klopp, because I certainly would play," said Benteke speaking to Belgian outlet Sport/Voetbalmagazine.

"When your coach says he wanted to take you to Dortmund and a little later you sit at the same club and he ignores you, it is hard to understand.

"I do not understand why people say that [I cannot fit in at Liverpool].

"I can play pressing and moving a lot. It is not that we play in the Barcelona style."

Football Insider revealed last week that Benteke was on a Hammers hitman shortlist and Sullivan responded to questions about their pursuit of the striker.

The West Ham chief confirmed his team's interest in Benteke, but admitted the Belgian's £100,000-a-week-plus wages was outside of what his club could afford.

Benteke's comments will surely add tension to an already strained relationship with Klopp.

The German coach was caught on camera after Sunday's defeat to Southampton lambasting Benteke for missing several chances in the shambolic 3-2 loss.

The incident has since been played down by Klopp, but it was widely criticised by the media at the time.

In other Liverpool news, the Reds are ready to do battle with Manchester City in the race for this Borussia Dortmund star.