After seeing yet another approach for Liverpool striker Christian Benteke turned down earlier this week, the Belgian hit-man is set for a medical with Crystal Palace after the Eagles agreed to stump up an initial payment of £27mil and throw in £5mil in add-ons that to finally bring the 25-year old to Selhurst Park.
In a chase that has lasted for most of the summer, Palace saw at least two bids batted away for the Reds misfit with their approach earlier in the week — which would have seen them pay £23mil up front and make additional payments if they made the top four and he played 70% of their matches — deemed “unrealistic” by the Anfield outfit. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has long insisted that he won’t be giving the striker away at a reduced rate, and in holding out, they’ve forced Croydon club reach in to their wallets.
Having swelled their coffers following the sale of winger Yannick Bolaise to Everton for a staggering £25mil, they have the money to spend — and after losing to West Bromwich Albion at the weekend, it was quite obvious where they need to spend it. They may have recruited the likes of Andros Townsend to add some attacking impetus over the summer, but they’re still well short of firepower and will be looking to Benteke to fill that gap after releasing misfiring duo Marouane Chamakh and Emmanuel Adebayor.
He may not fit in to the Klopp’s all action style, but there’s no questions floating around about his ability to find the net; although he saw his chances severely limited after the German arrived on Merseyside last fall, but the 25-year old still went on to bag 9-goals in the Premier League which included strikes against Chelsea both home and away, Manchester United as well as surprise champions Leicester City.
More on this when he’s holding a funny looking shirt…
