West Brom join race to sign Liverpool striker Christian Benteke

West Bromich Albion have joined the race to sign Liverpool striker Christian Benteke after a club record £15m ($19m) deal for West Ham's Diafra Sakho broke down last week.

Benteke, 25, is on the fringes of Jurgen Klopp's plans at Anfield and is widely expected to leave the Merseyside club before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

Crystal Palace have been closely linked with a move for the Belgium international, with Eagles boss Alan Pardew understood to be an admirer.

However, Liverpool's wish to recoup much of the £32.5m they paid Aston Villa for the player last summer is bound to be a sticking point in negotiations with any potential suitors.

The Guardian says West Brom are likely to launch a club record bid to sign Benteke as they expect Saido Berahino to leave the Hawthorns this summer.

The Baggies were bought out by China-based investment group Yunyi Guokai Sports Development Limited earlier this month.

Tony Pulis reportedly pulled out of a deal to sign Mamadou Sakho from West Ham after it became clear that he would not be fit until September.

Out-of-favour striker

Benteke publicly criticised Klopp for "ignoring" him in March and disputed the view that he did not fit the German's footballing philosophy.

"I find it bizarre, I do not understand why people say that. I can play pressing and moving a lot. It is not that we play in the Barcelona style," he was quoted as saying by the Guardian.

"I played two full matches in a row since Klopp [arrived]. I went up against Leicester, I scored, I followed up with a game and a goal to Sunderland, and then we lost to West Ham and since then I have been discarded.

"Even my father was annoyed at first by my status as a reservist and told me that I can do nothing.

"I spoke with Eden [Hazard] and with Marouane [Fellaini], they all gave me the same answer – when a coach does not count on you, you cannot change anything. I never would have signed if I had not been the priority of the coach," he explained.