Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said he rates Christian Benteke and scouted the striker when he was Borussia Dortmund boss.
Benteke, 25, has recently struggled for regular playing time in Klopp's starting XI, despite forwards Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi being sidelined.
The Belgium international signed for the Reds last summer from Aston Villa when former manager Brendan Rodgers was in charge, but Klopp has revealed he considered an approach while he was working at Dortmund in 2013.
The German coach said in the Daily Mirror: "I met him, plus his agent, at Dusseldorf airport.
"We saw a lot of games he played in, his technical skills, his heading and his finishing skills. From all those things he is a complete striker but you have to work for it.
"He hasn't finished his development, and we as a team haven't."
Klopp added of Benteke, who has scored six Premier League goals this season: "He needs to stay cool -- of course he has a future here.
"We don't score enough goals, so I understand why you ask about the striker -- in your mind the only striker we have. He is on the bench and that seems to be strange, but not in my opinion.
"We have to think about how we create chances. First of all we cannot hope that we can get the ball into the box and then maybe Christian will finish it.
"He always has the possibility to play, but you have to look how it fits. For example we had games with Roberto [Firmino] and Christian at No. 10 and No. 9. It did not work but that does not mean we can never play like this.
"To have Christian on the bench is a quality sign."