Palace unwilling to meet Reds’ asking price for Belgium striker
Crystal Palace have ended their interest in Liverpool striker Christian Benteke and will instead pursue the signing of West Brom’s Saido Berahino.
That is according to recent reports which suggest that the south London club are not willing to spend around £32 million on the striker, after Jurgen Klopp recently insisted Benteke will not depart Anfield at a cut-priced fee, despite a disappointing season on Merseyside.
Alan Pardew’s men lost 1-0 at home to West Brom on Saturday, and is in desperate need of adding further fire power to his squad, after selling Dwight Gayle for £10 million and is set to lose another forward player in Yannick Bolasie, for around £30 million to Everton.
But despite those sales enabling Pardew to fund the purchase of Benteke, the club are now understood to be pursuing their alternative striker target, Saido Berahino.
It has been no secret, for the past year, that Berahino wants out at the Hawthorns and would welcome a move to Selhurst Park. But official talks are not understood to have got underway yet, with just over two weeks left of the summer transfer window.
Berahino is valued at around £20 million and has a proven goalscoring record in the Premier League, despite a poor campaign last season, which was hindered by speculation about his future and a fall out with chairman former Jeremy Peace.
But Palace’s decision to not pursue the signing of Benteke will not force Liverpool to lower their asking price, with Klopp ready to find a place for him in his squad, if no club can meet the player’s valuation, despite not fitting into the German’s playing style.
However, despite the absence of striker Daniel Sturridge, through injury, Benteke was not included in Liverpool’s match-day squad that made the visit to the Emirates, to face Arsenal.
