Crystal Palace 'open to selling' £120k-a-week star at Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace would be “open” to selling Christian Benteke, according to The Sun journalist Tom Barclay.

The £120,000 per-week striker has entered the final 12 months of his Selhurst Park contract and has been linked with a move away from south London in recent months.

Having ended the 2020-2021 season in impressive goalscoring form by scoring in their final four matches, Benteke was rewarded with a new two-year deal, just days before Patrick Vieira replaced Roy Hodgson in the dugout.

Benteke continued his run in front of goal by finding the net four times in his opening eight starts of last season, including one at Arsenal and a brace at Burnley.

But the 31-year-old soon found himself out of the side at the expense of Odsonne Edouard and wouldn’t start another Premier League game after New Year’s Day.

In fact, Benteke was an unused substitute in 12 of Palace’s final 16 games, playing less than 50 minutes across four substitute appearances in the top-flight.

As a result, Barclay reckons the capital club would consider selling the 6 ft 2 frontman.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “I think they’d be open to a sale, but it would have to suit them because I don’t think he’s first choice now, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they stuck with what they’ve got coming in at the start of the season.

“I don’t think they’re urgently looking at that position as being as much a need of replacing as they felt a year to six months ago.”

According to the Evening Standard, Benteke had ‘no intention’ of leaving in January amid interest from Burnley, although that could now change following his extreme lack of game-time since the winter window closed.

Palace are yet to bolster their striker ranks, but the ex-Liverpool star is essentially third choice