Alan Pardew has landed Christian Benteke and taken a pot-shot at the Newcastle board in the process, reports The Chronicle.
The £27m deal may rise with add-ons to £32m but Pardew believes it’s money well spent. Money he would have spent at Newcastle if he’d had his way.
“We’ve lost two this week; massive figures in this club and you need to replace them with big figures.
“[That’s] something that didn’t always happen at Newcastle.
“I’m pleased that the board have been brave with this one and I thank them.”
Pardew wanted to sign Benteke back in 2014 but never agreed a fee with Aston Villa to bring him to St James Park. At the time, he was recovering from an Achilles tendon injury and valued at around £16-20m.
With no indication that he was going to rediscover his form, the Newcastle board blocked the deal and twelve months later he was on his way to Anfield for a disastrous twelve months.
Had he signed, it seems unlikely Moussa Sissoko would have joined which is an interesting notion given his current situation although there’s no guarantee we wouldn’t be going through the same pains with Benteke.
Whatever the case, it’s given Pardew the chance to have a pop at the board which must make him feel better.