Christian Benteke agrees terms with Crystal Palace, baulk at price

0

Christian Benteke, 25, is set to leave Liverpool having agreed personal terms with Crystal Palace.

The south London club are desperate to add to their goal-shy attack and hope to revive the Belgian’s ailing club career.

Despite failing to impress new Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, Benteke was still included in his country’s squad for their ultimately disappointing Euro 2016 campaign. However, his Liverpool form saw him reduced to the bench rather the starting place he was previously accustomed to.

Palace were close to landing Michy Batshuayi, 22, but were swept aside as Chelsea landed Benteke’s compatriot in a quickly sealed deal. It left the Eagles scratching around with a dearth of in-form strikers in Europe’s top leagues.

Previously, they had been heavily linked with West Bromwich Albion misfit, Saido Berahino, 22, but with Albion demanding £20m for the want-away striker, Palace have turned their attention to Benteke.

The price is expected to be in excess of £30m but the Belgian has proven he can score in the top flight whilst Berahino is still seen as a promising striker. He only scored 4 times for Albion in 28 Premier League outings last season whilst Benteke more than doubled that total in a similar number of games.

Berahino has been strongly linked with a move to Stoke City with a £16m bid made earlier this summer. Watford are considering adding Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo, 27, into a deal to entice Albion into a sale.

 

Read all transfer ins and outs, completed deals visit football transfer news.