Odds slashed: Everton installed favourites to sign Liverpool attacker

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Published on:

16 Aug 2016, 5:03 am

By Alex Stevens

Everton have been installed as the favourites to sign Liverpool outcast Christian Benteke in the final weeks of the transfer window.

The Belgium international had his odds slashed to evens by betting company Sky Bet on Tuesday morning to make a sensational move to Goodison Park.

Everton have jumped ahead of Crystal Palace in the betting to land Benteke, with the London club rated 7/4 to sign the striker.

West Ham are third favourites to bring the 25-year-old to their club at 5/1, a long way ahead of West Brom, who are 20/1 to land him in this summer's window.

The change in odds come after billionaire Everton owner Farhad Moshiri revealed on Monday night he isn't content with the club's four senior signings and is keen to further strengthen the squad before the 31 August cut-off.

Liverpool are keen to offload the Belgium striker but they are unwilling to allow the target man to leave Anfield on loan or below their asking price.

The Liverpool Echo claims that the Reds' Merseyside rivals are one of a number of Premier League clubs interested in signing the former Genk striker, as they look to reinforce their striker ranks amid doubts over the future of Romelu Lukaku.

Liverpool are looking to recoup as much of the £32.5million they paid Aston Villa last summer for the attacker.

Benteke has four years remaining on his Anfield contract but has dropped down the striker pecking order, with Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi, Danny Ings and even playmaker Roberto Firmino all considered ahead of him in the battle for the spearhead role.

Benteke has not featured once for Klopp this summer and appears keen to leave, with Palace coming close to signing Liverpool's number 9 last month.

The London club could not agree a deal as the Merseysiders held out for their £30million-plus asking price.

The striker scored 42 goals in 89 appearances during his time at Villa, but that form dipped after his big-money move to Anfield, which saw him net on nine occasions in 29 games in all competitions for the club.

In other Everton transfer news, boss Ronald Koeman is looking to pull off a sensational deal to sign this Germany international.

Liverpool FC

Christian Benteke

Everton FC