SWANSEA, WALES - Sunday, May 1, 2016: Liverpool's Christian Benteke celebrates scoring the first goal against Swansea City during the Premier League match at the Liberty Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Crystal Palace linked with Christian Benteke bid

Liverpool striker Christian Benteke is reportedly a summer target for Crystal Palace.

According to the Daily Star – admittedly far from the most reliable of sources – Benteke is of interest to Crystal Palace this summer.

The Eagles lacked quality up front last season, with the likes of Connor Wickham and Emmanuel Adebayor flattering to deceive, and the Belgian would be an undoubted upgrade for the London side.

Saido Berahino and Andros Townsend are also reported to be on Alan Pardew’s summer wish-list.

Benteke had a disappointing first season at Liverpool following a huge £32.5million from Aston Villa last summer.

The 25-year-old never really appeared to fit into the Reds’ style of play, under both Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp, with a number of below-par performances frustrating supporters.

The Belgium international managed just 10 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions, which for a player of his value, has to be classed as poor.

A move to Palace might appeal to Benteke, with a lack of first-team opportunities almost a certainly at Liverpool next season.

Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi and Danny Ings are all ahead of him in the strikers’ pecking order, and there could still be new arrivals in attack as well.

The former Villa man is far from a bad footballer, and can guarantee a regular flow of goals for a side of Palace’s calibre, but he never felt like the right fit for Liverpool.

It is thought the club is likely to accept an offer in the region of £20 million, with West Ham and Atletico Madrid among the clubs to have been linked earlier this summer.

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