Simon Mignolet wants Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke to join Liverpool

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has urged Christian Benteke to snub Manchester United and make a switch to Anfield in the summer transfer window.

The Aston Villa striker has been linked with a move to United, while the Merseyside club have also maintained their interest in landing him. The 24-year-old is believed to have a £32.5m ($49.8m) release clause in his contract.

Mignolet will be joined by his Belgium teammate Divock Origi for the next season as the striker will return from his season-long loan at Lille. The stopper wants Benteke to leave Villa and join the Belgium contingent at Liverpool.

"I'm going to talk with Benteke about the Liverpool rumour. It would be fine to have three Belgians at the club. It'll be a pleasure to welcome Divock to the club and the city," Mignolet said, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo.

A move to Liverpool will see United suffer a massive blow in their ongoing pursuit of Benteke. Meanwhile, should the striker join Louis van Gaal's side, he will join Marouane Fellaini and Adnan Januzaj as the Belgium players at Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers' side struggled last term as they finished sixth in the league table after a 6-1 crushing defeat against Stoke City in the final match of the campaign. They are also out of the next season's Champions League.

Mignolet was heavily criticised for his performance at the start of the season. However, he improved in this calendar year and the former Sunderland keeper remains hopeful he can continue his form to the next season.

"At a club like Liverpool, you know the goalkeeper can get criticism. All you can then do is keep working hard," the Reds keeper said.

"I've played a good second half of the season, now I have to keep that going into next season. We've got to make sure we are together as a team when the new season starts. We must make a good start. We want to take Liverpool back to the top next season."