Crystal Palace sign Liverpool’s Christian Benteke for £27m on four-year deal

Crystal Palace have confirmed the signing of Christian Benteke from Liverpool. The 25-year-old Belgium striker signed a four-year contract on Saturday for an undisclosed fee thought to be in the region of £27m.

Benteke, who joined Liverpool from Aston Villa for £32.5m little more than a year ago, had a difficult first season at Anfield and it became clear he did not fit into Jürgen Klopp’s plans after he replaced Brendan Rodgers as the manager in October last year.

Despite impressing in a dismal Aston Villa side, scoring 42 league goals in four seasons, Benteke looked out of place for large parts of his debut season at Anfield and managed only 10 goals in 43 appearances in all competitions.

He was part of Belgium’s squad for Euro 2016 but played second fiddle to Everton’s Romelu Lukaku and failed to score in his two appearances at the tournament.

Benteke is Alan Pardew’s fourth signing of the summer, joining Steve Mandanda, Andros Townsend and James Tomkins in arriving at Selhurst Park. The striker told the club’s website: “I’m very happy to commit my future to Crystal Palace and I’m looking forward to meeting the manager, the players and the staff. I feel really happy the deal has been done and now I can look forward.”

Pardew said: “It’s important when you lose iconic players to try to replace them with iconic players. We’ve lost two this week, Mile Jedinak and Yannick Bolasie. Both were massive figures and we will need to replace them with big figures.

“That’s something that didn’t always happen at [his former club] Newcastle, unfortunately, so I’m pleased the board have been brave with this move.

“He’s someone I know very well because I wanted to take him to Newcastle. I thought he’d be a fantastic fit for that club. He got the move to Liverpool and it hasn’t quite worked out. For us, we need to get him back to doing what he does best. His style of play, the way he feeds off crosses. He’ll enjoy that with the wide players we have.”

There was, however, embarrassment for both player and club when the striker updated his Twitter profile to say he played for Burnley. Benteke has apologised for the mistake.

Christian Benteke opens up on Liverpool plans: I’ll leave if Jurgen Klopp doesn’t play me

LIVERPOOL striker Christian Benteke is ready to leave Anfield - but only if he is not part of Jurgen Klopp’s plans.

The 25-year-old endured a difficult debut campaign on Merseyside, despite making 42 appearances in all competitions.

After signing from Aston Villa in a £32.5million deal, he netted just 10 goals and his comptriot Divock Origi was preferred during Daniel Sturridge’s injury absence.

And now the Belgium international has spoken out about his future plans as he builds up to Euro 2016.

"At 25 years old, I'm neither old nor young but it's important to play," said Benteke at a press conference.

"I still have a contract at Liverpool and I'd like to stay there, if I remain in the coach's plans.

"If that's not the case, it will become difficult to stay. I'll think about if after the Euros."

Benteke was also keen to reflect on his first season at Liverpool.

"I was prepared for what I went through," he said. 

"I knew that if I had mixed performances I would be criticised. That's what happened.

"When he [Klopp] arrived, I saw that I wasn't in his plans. That was frustrating because I knew that during my first season at Aston Villa he wanted me.

"But we had several discussions together -- I respect and I understand his decisions."

Klopp is thought to be mulling over a move for Jamie Vardy and Benteke may have his future decided for him if the Reds boss needs to free up funds to snare the Leicester star ahead of Arsenal.

Christian Benteke admits it may be "difficult to stay" at Liverpool this summer

The Belgian striker started just eight games under Klopp and admits he may have to depart if he is not in his manager's plans.

Christian Benteke has admitted he may have to consider his future at Liverpool this summer.

The striker moved to Anfield from Aston Villa for £32.5m last summer but struggled to make an impact on Merseyside.

The arrival of Jurgen Klopp hardly helped Benteke's chances with the Belgian starting just eight games under the new Liverpool boss.

He has been tipped to exit this summer with West Ham reportedly keen while Chelsea has also emerged as a possible destination.

And while he would like to stay at Anfield, Benteke concedes he may look for a move away if things don't change.

Benteke endured a tough first season on Merseyside

"At 25 years old, I'm neither old nor young but it's important to play," he said at Belgium's news conference ahead of Euro 2016.

"I still have a contract at Liverpool and I'd like to stay there, if I remain in the coach's plans.

"If that's not the case, it will become difficult to stay. I'll think about if after the Euros."

Christian Benteke during training ahead of Euro 2016

Benteke managed just 10 goals for the Reds last term with Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge ahead of him in the pecking order.

He added: "I knew that if I had mixed performances I would be criticised. That's what happened.

"When he [Klopp] arrived, I saw that I wasn't in his plans. That was frustrating because I knew that during my first season at Aston Villa he wanted me.

"But we had several discussions together. I respect and I understand his decisions."

Reactions to Christian Benteke dive should be criticised, says Pardew

Alan Pardew has revealed his concern at the reaction to what he viewed as Christian Benteke's dive against Crystal Palace, believing players should be criticised for such conduct.

Liverpool's Benteke went down in the area after minimal contact with Palace's Damien Delaney and was awarded the stoppage-time penalty from which he secured Liverpool's 2-1 win.

Pardew accused the striker of diving but is wary that in the modern culture it is seen by some as acceptable to fall in the pursuit of a decision if contact is made. The retired Jamie Carragher is among those whose view of the incident he was unhappy with, and in the build-up to Palace's FA Cup quarter-final at Reading on Friday, the manager said: "The debate that followed the penalty worries me slightly.

"Because a lot of professional players, a lot of players who have played the game were saying things like, 'Of course he played for it because he got a touch'. And we get accused as coaches and managers of coaching that, and I have never seen, any of my coaches coach it or encourage it.

"That worries me that some people have found that acceptable. A foul is a foul and if it is a foul it should be given. I still maintain that was not a foul.

"When you look at the decision you have to say, 'Okay what do the official body think of it?' Well the linesman hasn't got a game this week. Maybe that tells you.

"The situation is that I could easily say to my players 'If anyone gets touched in the box, go down'. I could easily say that but I don't want to.

"If someone hinders your progress and you're going to go down, you go down. I still maintain that it was a really tough decision to be given against us."

Friday's visit to the Madejski Stadium will reunite Pardew with Reading manager Brian McDermott, who he first appointed to the club as chief scout before leaving for West Ham in 2003.

Pardew also last week recruited Andy Hughes - who played under him at Reading - to his coaching staff at Palace and, at a time when he could soon come under pressure because of his team's inability to win in the league since December 19, this week turned to Steve Coppell for advice.

Coppell managed a Palace team featuring Pardew to the 1990 FA Cup final before succeeding him at Reading, who he led to the Premier League, and Pardew - who again has Jason Puncheon and Wayne Hennessey available after injury - said: "I got Steve Coppell to come in (to talk to me and Palace's coaching staff).

"It was nice to see him back here. I showed him around a little bit, he reminisced with a few of his ex-players, Brighty (Mark Bright) and (John) Salako.

"It was good to see him. It was good to share some moments, because I was a player at that time; I only recalled it as a player, and it is different for the manager.

"I leaned on him about his experiences of that run (to the 1990 Cup final), and what he was feeling as the manager, and it was nice to talk to him, and reminisce."

Klopp dismisses Benteke departure speculation - but striker must play his way back into Liverpool team

Reds boss says it's up to the Belgian to change his mind over selection

Watford's Miguel Britos (behind) grabs Liverpool's Christian Benteke as they battle for the ball during the Barclays Premier League match at Vicarage Road, Watford. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday December 20, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Watford. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

Jurgen Klopp dismissed suggestions Christian Benteke could leave Liverpool in January – but said it was up to the striker to play his way back into favour at Anfield.

Benteke was left out of Klopp’s starting line-up for the 3-0 defeat at Watford, emerging only as a second-half substitute, by which time the Reds were already two goals down. Divock Origi, his 20-year-old countryman, was summoned from the bench during the first half when Martin Skrtel’s injury necessitated a change.

One report on Sunday morning had suggested Benteke, who has managed five goals in 17 appearances since joining from Aston Villa for £32.5m in the summer, could be allowed to leave the club as early as next month, with Chelsea credited with an interest.

Klopp was uninterested in such speculation in his post-match press conference at Vicarage Road, but suggested that Benteke would have to convince him he was worthy of a return to the Reds starting XI.

He said: “If there is the same probability in that (story) as all the other transfer rumours since I have been here, then I am pretty cool!”

Asked whether it had been a mistake to leave Benteke on the bench, Klopp replied: “That’s the problem; if you lose a game everyone is allowed to ask why this player didn’t play. You never ask after a win.

"Maybe it was not the best decision, I don’t know. Today I decided not to start with Christian. It is up to the player to change this.”

Klopp was unable to offer an update on the fitness of Skrtel, who departed before half time having injured himself in an aerial challenge. “I don’t know,” was his answer when asked about the Slovakian.

Liverpool, of course, can ill afford to lose another senior central defender, with Dejan Lovren already sidelined with a knee problem. Midfielder Lucas Leiva finished the game in defence, alongside Mamadou Sakho, who was making his first start in six weeks following his own knee injury.

Liverpool Transfer News: Latest on Christian Benteke and Marko Grujic Rumours

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has closed the book on any chances Christian Benteke could leave Anfield this winter. Plus, the German is close to sealing his first Anfield signing in the form of Red Star Belgrade youngster Marko Grujic.  

Benteke came on as a substitute in Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Watford, leading to intensified speculation of a January move to Chelsea, but Klopp ruled such gossip as little more than rumour, per Goal.com's Melissa Reddy:

If you lose the game, everyone is allowed to ask why this and this player didn’t play. You never ask after a win. Maybe it was not the best decision, but we will never find out. But today I decided first for Firmino, then for Origi, then for Christian - it’s up to the player to change this.

If it’s the same probability of all the other transfer rumours that I’ve heard since I’ve been here, then I’m cool. The things I’ve read so far are nil per cent true. I don’t know. I’ve never heard about this.

Chelsea were one of the clubs attached to Benteke before he left Aston Villa for Liverpool this past summer in a £32.5 million deal, the second-largest fee ever paid by the Merseysiders for a player.

It therefore stands to reason the Blues could execute an early Anfield exit for Benteke, considering they'd be able to afford his transfer and could be in line for drastic changes this January.

There is still some debate as to how Benteke fits in on Merseyside, particularly with the more mobile likes of Daniel Sturridge and Belgian compatriot Divock Origi looking to cement their places in Klopp's XI.

Football writer Nik Postinger highlighted Klopp's decision to start Roberto Firmino up front against Watford instead of Benteke as indication of his opinion on the former Villa ace:

Benteke has four goals in 14 Premier League appearances for the Reds this season, but Reddy pointed out Liverpool's scoring record when he's off of the pitch as being superior to their scoring record with him starting.

That being said, it seems highly unlikely the English giants would give up on their mega-money investment so easily, especially with Klopp still getting settled in his Liverpool surroundings—not to mention with the squad itself.

On the inbound list, there is news Liverpool will sign Grujic in a £5 million deal, pending a medical, later this week, according to James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo, who claimed a five-year contract has been agreed.

Reddy provided a glimpse at Grujic's 2015-16 statistics, claiming the player will shun competition as big as Italian giants Inter to join Klopp's uprising in England:

Liverpool will pay £5 million (€7 million) for the 19-year-old central midfielder, but Red Star Belgrade will receive £730,000 (€1 million) of that fee back so Grujic can remain in Serbia on loan for the remainder of the season.

Pearce added that Klopp's personal intervention in the deal was a key influence in luring Grujic to Anfield, a move that's sure to go down well with fans as the manager continues his hands-on approach to the game.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp dismisses Christian Benteke link with Chelsea

Liverpool striker Christian Benteke will not be joining Chelsea during the upcoming January transfer window, according to manager Jurgen Klopp. The Belgium international has been out of favour at Anfield since the sacking of Brendan Rodgers and according to reports he was part of a transfer wishlist formulated by former manager Jose Mourinho.

The Sunday People understands that Benteke was part of Mourinho's transfer plans for January, prior to his sacking in December. Despite the departure of the 52-year-old, the publication believes that interim boss Guus Hiddink and the Blues hierarchy will press ahead with the plans to help reinvigorate the club's forward line.

Benteke has slipped down the pecking order at Liverpool since the arrival of Klopp in October. The 25-year-old was signed by Rodgers from Aston Villa in the summer but has made just four Premier League starts since the appointment of the German.

"If there's the same probability in all the other transfer rumours I've heard since I've been here, then I'm pretty cool," Klopp responded when questioned about Chelsea's interest, according to Goal.com. "All I've read until now was 0% and I haven't heard about this."

Asked about the omission of Benteke, who has netted five goals for Liverpool this season including against Chelsea in a 3-1 success at Stamford Bridge, he added: "That's the next problem. If you lose the games everyone is allowed to ask why this player didn't play, when they wouldn't after you win. So okay, maybe it was not the best decision, I don't know. We will never find out. But for today I decide first for Christian, then for Divock (Origi), then for Christian. It's up to the players to change this."

Despite the vote of confidence, Klopp has singled out Benteke for criticism for Liverpool's recent poor run in front of goal, which has seen them failed to score in three of their last four games in all competitions including in the 3-0 defeat at Watford. "There's a difference between the way we play and Aston Villa play," he claimed before the game. "If as a striker you don't feel confident in the game because you aren't getting enough crosses then you have to move more.

"As a striker you want to play five, six games in a row. At Villa when he was fit he played – but here everything is different." Nevertheless, Klopp has no plans to offload Benteke – who made a 16-minute cameo appearance from the bench at Vicarage Road.