Liverpool transfer news: West Ham weigh up £8m offer for Fabio Borini but Reds consider using striker in bid to sign Christian Benteke

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

West Ham are considering a move for Liverpool's out-of-favour striker Fabio Borini, but the Anfield club could still look to use the striker in a deal to land Aston Villa's Christian Benteke this summer.

The Hammers are looking to demonstrate their vision of elevating the club up the Premier League table and convince new manager Slaven Bilic that they have big plans ahead of their move into the Olympic Stadium next season.

The club have already move to bring in midfielder Pedro Obiang and forward Dimitri Payet from Sampdoria and Marseille respectively in deals that total more than £15m. With the spending set to continue at Upton Park, the Evening Standard has revealed that the east London club are weighing up an £8m bid for Borini, with the Italian set to leave Anfield this summer.

However, having disappointed with Liverpool last season following a briefly successful loan spell with Sunderland, Borini could be used in the Reds’ attempts to sign Benteke from Villa. With Villa holding out for Benteke’s £32.5m release clause, Liverpool believe they may be able to negotiate a deal that includes Borini or his current strike team-mate Rickie Lambert to knock down the fee.

The 24-year-old arrived at Anfield in 2012 after leaving Roma in a deal worth £10.5m, but with just three goals coming from his 38 appearances for the Merseyside outfit, the move has to go down as a failure. Sunderland did attempt to sign Borini last year after he helped keep them safe from relegation, but to his credit Borini admitted he wanted to fight for his place and chose to remain among Brendan Rodgers’ ranks in a bid to challenge Lambert, Daniel Sturridge and Mario Balotelli for a place in the first team.

Should Liverpool decide to sell to the Hammers, they will likely take a loss on the fee that they shelled out for him three years ago, although given his performances the drop-off will not be as severe as they may have feared.

The Reds’ hierarchy have moved swiftly this summer, landing the blockbuster £29m signing of Roberto Firmino last week to add to the moves already sealed for James Milner, Danny Ings, Adam Bogdan and Joe Gomez.

Southampton right-back Nathaniel Clyne is also close to a move to Liverpool, with the England international seen today at their Melwood training base as he underwent a medical ahead of a proposed £12.5m switch.