According to the Chronicle’s Mark Douglas, Newcastle have been offered the chance to sign Christian Benteke this month.
The Crystal Palace striker looks set to leave Selhurst Park after the arrival of Cenk Tosun, and it’s claimed his name has been ‘pushed’ to Steve Bruce.
That said, Douglas claim his wages are “very, very expensive”, also debating whether this Premier League experience outweighs the fact he’s been far from prolific in recent seasons.
Here’s what he’s had to say when speaking about the strikers who’ve been offered to Newcastle during the Chronicle’s ‘Everything is Black and White’ Podcast:
“They were obviously offered Cenk Tosun – we know that.
“I think Christian Benteke’s name has now been pushed to them as well but he’s very, very expensive in terms of wages, and doesn’t score a lot more goals really than Joelinton but has experience in the Premier League.
“He might be somebody that you could look at and say, well, maybe he would get others playing a little bit better for a very short period of time.
“You bring him in for five months, he takes a bit of the burden off Joelinton and Andy Carroll, and could potentially weigh in with one or two goals himself and then you send him back to Crystal Palace.
“Is that money well spent? It’ll be a big loan fee and you’d obviously have to contribute all these wages which are significant.
“So that’s the dilemma that they’ve got [with most] but they’re being offered plays all the time.”
There’s no doubt the 6ft 3′ Belgian international is suited to a lone striker role – being a similar frame and style of player to Andy Carrol – but his form in front of goal suggests he may not be the answer.
The 29-year-old scores an impressive 49 goals in 101 appearances at Aston Villa, but has managed just 21 goals in 106 games for Crystal Palace – bagging just 4 goals and 9 assists across the past two and a half seasons.
With his wages high and his form poor, you can see why we’d look elsewhere.
Not scoring for Palace who are more attacking than us, so why would he be any good here?
sickandtired(Quote)
When you put “Claims” in front of anything it then becomes total Bullshit.
Personally I think Benteke would do well with us as he is a goal scorer and isn’t happy where he is but still has some quality.
Knowing our luck we will end up with his Brother.
Cocobear(Quote)
1 goal in 30 games why do we want him
Grambo(Quote)