Sunderland boss David Moyes to fight former club Everton over £30million Liverpool flop Christian Benteke
Black Cats chief is desperate to land a top striker as he prepares for his return to English football
DAVID MOYES is set to go toe-to-toe with Everton over a £30million move for Christian Benteke.
The Liverpool flop will be allowed to leave Anfield by Jurgen Klopp if the club's valuation is met.
And claim new Sunderland chief Moyes is desperate to beat his former club to the punch and bring in the ex-Aston Villa star.
But if Everton cash in on £75m Chelsea target Romelu Lukaku they could make an audacious bid to sign his fellow Belgian from their bitter rivals.
That would pit Moyes against the club he quit in 2013 before an ill-fated spell as Alex Ferguson's replacement at Manchetser United.
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Crystal Palace have already tried to sign Benteke, 25, this summer but refused to match the Reds' valuation.
Klopp is keen to offload the striker but Anfield chiefs are determined to recoup most of the money they paid Villa last year.
Benteke scored nine league goals last season in 29 matches, with 15 of those coming off the bench.
Belgian whizkid Divock Origi and England star Daniel Sturridge are both above him in the pecking order.
Moyes knows he needs to strengthen up front if Sunderland are to improve on last season and stay clear of the drop zone.
The Scot, 53, said: “There’s no doubt we have to make signings and I believe we definitely will do.
“We were never off the phone last week. It was constant apart from the training to see what we could do. It was more to get the information before we made any actions.
“I think it’s well documented that we’ve only got one centre-forward really in Jermain Defoe – we’ve got others who can do the job at other times. But I would like to strengthen in most areas if it comes up.”