Big Sam plots WBA reunion with big-money striker, set to leave as club sign replacement – report
West Brom are weighing up an offer for Crystal Palace forward Christian Benteke to solve their striker shortage, according to the Daily Mail.
After Palace signed Jean-Philippe Mateta from Mainz on an 18-month loan with an obligation to buy for £13.4million it appears Benteke is being squeezed out of Selhurst Park with his contract set to expire in June 2021 on his £120,000 per week wages [spotrac].
Baggies boss Sam Allardyce knows the Belgian international well after managing him during his spell at the south London club, and he will be desperate to bring a striker in with only Callum Robinson and Hal Robson-Kanu currently available as senior striking options after Charlie Austin’s loan exit and Karlan Grant’s injury.
The Daily Mail report that Benteke is among the strikers being considered by Albion and that Palace will listen to offers for the 30-year-old so a deal does look doable in January with new terms on a contract yet to be agreed.
Before the 4-0 thrashing to Manchester City on January 17 Benteke had actually been a regular fixture in the side starting the previous five matches after his return from suspension.
He has made 13 Premier League appearances for Roy Hodgson’s side this season but the arrival of Mateta, who has scored seven times in the Bundesliga this season, looks to have knocked him down in the pecking order.
Big Sam’s battering ram?
News of interest in Benteke is sure to split Albion supporters.
He is certainly not known for his prolific goal scoring record with a paltry return of nine goals in 84 Premier League appearances since 2017/18, a shocking return for a player who has played alongside the prodigious talents of Wilfried Zaha.
Benteke only has three this season but two of them actually came at The Hawthorns when Palace smashed Albion 5-1 on December 6 as he offered a reminder of his dwindling talents.
He did, however, enjoy the second-most prolific campaign of his career under Big Sam in the 2016/17 season when he scored 15 times in 36 league games, with the arrival of Allardyce in December that season helping to unleash his abilities as Palace avoided relegation.
The concern will be that Benteke is no longer the goalscoring machine he once was, particularly in his Aston Villa days.
He could, though, be a major asset for Albion with his aerial prowess and ability to hold the ball up.
Only Sheffield United striker Oliver McBurnie has competed in more aerial duels per 90 than Benteke (15.35) in the Premier League this season [Wyscout].
With the likes of Robert Snodgrass and Matheus Pereira on hand to offer some quality service Benteke could be a useful target for West Brom, particularly at set-pieces.
In other West Brom news, Albion reportedly re-ignite interest in 95-cap star.
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