LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool have agreed to sign striker Christian Benteke from English Premier League rivals Aston Villa for £32.5 million (S$69.4 million), the BBC and other British media organisations reported on Sunday.

The 24-year-old Belgium international is now due to have a medical, with Liverpool's club doctor set to return home from the team's pre-season tour of Australia to conduct proceedings.

It is not expected, however, that Benteke himself will join the tour.

The forward arrived at Villa from Genk in a £7 million move in 2012 and has since scored 49 goals in 101 appearances for the Birmingham club.

His 12 goals in as many games last season played a key role in helping Villa avoid relegation from the lucrative top flight of English football.

Liverpool went to sign Benteke, who still has two years left on his Villa contract, after off-loading forward Raheem Sterling to Manchester City for a record fee between English Premier League clubs that could rise to as much as £49 million.