Liverpool have reportedly been dealt a major blow in their pursuit of Dinamo Zagreb winger Marko Pjaca with the Croatian set to join Inter Milan, while Christian Benteke is open to making a move to Crystal Palace.

According to SportMediaset (via FootballItalia), Pjaca, 21, will have a medical with Inter on Monday, having drawn interest from AC Milan and Napoli, as well as Liverpool.

The report continued that Inter’s good relationship with Dinamo—they have signed Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic from them in recent times—gave them the edge in the negotiations.

Pjaca made an excellent impression playing for Croatia at Euro 2016, particularly in his 90 minutes on the left flank in their defeat of Spain, per beIN Sports’ Matteo Bonetti:

Most comfortable playing out wide, he can also operate as a central striker and could fit well into Liverpool’s front line of Roberto Firmino, Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho.

Pjaca is both creative on the ball while also being an effective goalscorer—see what he can do in the video below—but it seems as though Liverpool will have to look elsewhere in order to strengthen their attacking unit:

Meanwhile, per David Anderson in the Mirror, Belgian striker Benteke has reportedly “[conceded] his Liverpool career is over after just one season” and Palace manager Alan Pardew is looking to “lure” Benteke to Selhurst Park this summer.

Anderson added that Liverpool’s recent signing of Sadio Mane has made Benteke’s battle to feature in the starting XI even more difficult under manager Jurgen Klopp. The 25-year-old is thus willing to move to Palace, who will offer him more first-team opportunities and can pay him the majority of the £140,000-a-week salary he makes playing for the Reds.

Brendan Rodgers was the man who bought Benteke for Liverpool from Aston Villa last summer for £32.5 million, and even then it seemed unlikely he would fit into the Northern Irishman’s system.

When Klopp was appointed as Rodgers’ successor in October 2015, Benteke’s first-team chances were dashed further as he does not fit well into the German’s intricate attacking system.

Benteke only made 14 Premier League starts last season and, while he still managed to net nine goals, he rarely looked as threatening as he often did in his Villa days, per WhoScored.com.

He remains a top-quality striker, though, hence Liverpool are demanding that Palace stump up £30 million for him, per Chris Bascombe in the Telegraph.

If the Eagles are prepared to meet the asking price, it would likely be a good move for all involved, as Benteke is currently wasted at Liverpool but could thrive under Pardew.  

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