Yannick Bolasie lauds Crystal Palace’s £30m pursuit of “fresh face” Christian Benteke

With Crystal Palace looking to sign Liverpool striker Christian Benteke this summer, Eagles winger Yannick Bolasie has welcomed the move.

Palace have spent much of the summer pursuing the out-of-favour Belgian, with bids worth £25 million and up to £31.5 million so far falling on deaf ears.

Liverpool are looking for an up-front payment close to the £32.5 million they paid Aston Villa last summer.

According to recent reports, they would accept £30 million for the 25-year-old, with Palace said to be preparing a new bid to match that valuation.

This would see Benteke become Palace’s record signing, dwarfing the £13 million spent to bring Andros Townsend to Selhurst Park earlier in the summer.

Benteke could be joined by West Bromwich Albion forward Saido Berahino, with Alan Pardew pushing to secure deals for both.

Bolasie, whose Palace future has come under question this summer, says this would see Palace move in the right direction.

“I know Saido and he would be a good signing. I think he is a top lad,” he told reporters this week.

“Everyone gets him a bit wrong but he is a top guy.

“Obviously Benteke has Congolese origin, same as me. It is good to see fresh faces come through the door.

“Especially with what we are seeing in the Premier League so far, with the managers that have come in and players coming in from all over the world.”

LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, May 9, 2015: Crystal Palace's Yannick Bolasie in action against Manchester United during the Premier League match at Selhurst Park. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Whether this is part of a wider charm offensive from the Eagles this summer is unclear, but the prospect of becoming a key player in south London should be an attractive one to Benteke.

Not only would the striker become the club’s record signing, but he would also likely be their highest earner.

The former Genk star is currently earning £120,000 a week on Merseyside, following his big-money move from Villa Park just over 12 months ago.

Benteke showcased his talents with a match-winning cameo away to Palace in March, winning a penalty that saw the Reds seal a 2-1 victory.

But having struggled to adjust to Jurgen Klopp‘s tactical demands, he finds himself low down the pecking order in attack as Liverpool prepare for the 2016/17 campaign.

Currently with Klopp’s squad for their pre-season tour of the US, Benteke is yet to feature on the pitch, having missed Thursday morning’s 1-0 defeat to Chelsea as he continues fitness work.

He would likely return to the UK if Palace can agree a deal with the Reds in the coming days.

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