Arsenal and Liverpool eye summer moves for Villa’s Benteke

It’s hardly been the most thrilling of January transfer windows and, with just a couple of days left for teams to do their business, it doesn’t look like getting any more interesting.

In fact, the papers are already turning their attentions to the summer, with most of today’s big rumours involving potential transfers much further down the line.

According to the Sunday Mirror, it’s Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke who is getting admiring glances from several Premier League teams who are all, to put it politely, in slightly better positions than Paul Lambert’s men.

Tottenham, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool are all believed to be interested in signing the 22-year-old who has bagged himself 11 goals this season.

Keeping the striker – who joined in the summer from Belgian club Genk – will surely depend on Villa staying the Premier League and, with Villa now 19/20 fourth favourites for the drop, that will be easier said than done.

Meanwhile, the Sunday Mirror are also reporting that David Beckham will try to convince four England internationals that a move to the MLS isn’t simply a glorified early retirement.

Former England captain is to try and convince the likes of Steven Gerrard, Ashley Cole and Peter Crouch to join the MLS before their playing days are over.

With all three still featuring heavily for their Premier League paymasters at the moment – and with no sign of that changing too soon – it will surely be a few years yet before Sven’s Golden Generation are plying their trade over the pond.

Finally, the Sunday Mirror, once again, reckon that Reading are trying to hijack Liverpool’s move for Blackpool winger Tom Ince and are preparing an £8 million move.

But that’s not going to happen.