Mark Lawrenson has joined the chorus of Liverpool legends by encouraging the Reds to sign Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke.

Manager Brendan Rodgers has already welcomed a raft of new names to Anfield this summer, including Brazil hitman Roberto Firmino and ex-Burnley forward Danny Ings.

However, speculation has mounted that the Belgian will be the third marksman to arrive at Anfield, with the club reportedly lodging an improved £25m bid in recent weeks.

Kop legends John Aldridge and Robbie Fowler have recently urged Rodgers to stump up the £32.5m needed to trigger his release clause, and Lawrenson says that the 24-year-old could be "the final piece of the jigsaw".

"After a busy summer already in the transfer market, it looks like a big signing up front will be next for Liverpool and Christian Benteke could be the final piece of the jigsaw," he wrote in the Liverpool Echo.

"We all know that his strength is in the air and he could play on his own up front and would be able to operate in a 4-3-3 or in a diamond, with Danny Ings behind him."

"It's all about different options for Brendan. Not just from game to game but changing within matches now, which seems to be a big thing within the Premier League."

Benteke, whose contract expires in 2017, struck 15 goals in all competitions last season.