Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is to be given a vote of confidence by the club’s board, over the impending deal for Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke.
The Reds are set to trigger the £32.5m release clause in the Belgian’s contract.
It was thought that Rodgers may have been on his way out at the end of last season.
However, the Fenway Sports Group, which owns Liverpool, have given the Irishman their backing.
Manchester United have been strongly linked to Benteke, as they look for firepower to replace the departed Robin Van Persie.
But their arch rivals are looking to steal a march on them by activating the release clause.
Benteke has been coveted by Rodgers for some time, and FSG believe there can be no excuses if Rodgers gets the man he wants.
Of 153 goals the Reds have scored in the last two years, 94 of those were scored by Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard, Daniel Sturridge or Raheem Sterling.
With three of those four players having left, and Sturridge battling injury problems, Rodgers knew he needed reinforcements up front.
Danny Ings has signed from Burnley, and Benteke looks set to join him.
by Steve Osborne