Former Crystal Palace forward Marcus Bent has claimed that the Eagles need to cut their losses and part ways with Belgium international Christian Benteke.
Benteke, who is valued at £8.1 million (Transfermarkt), is enjoying one of his most prolific seasons for Palace since he arrived at the club, with his lone goal in Palace’s 4-1 thrashing at Chelsea yielding his sixth goal of the season.
Only Wilfried Zaha has scored more than the Belgian for the Eagles (9), but Benteke is also a notable name that is a part of a large body of players out of contract in the summer.
Speaking to the Transfer Tavern, Bent claimed that Palace have to release Benteke in the summer – despite his resurgence in scoring form: “Benteke needs 20 chances to score two goals,” the ex-Palace player claimed.
“That’s how I see him. He’s strong, he’s big, but he’s not a clinical finisher. I think they need to replace him.
“No disrespect to him. He is a good player. He’s a good player on superstar money which could probably go to two or three other players and make the squad and the team a little bit better.”
Given that manager Roy Hodgson and so many other players at Palace are out of contract in the summer, it is hard to see the bulk of them being retained in the summer.
Benteke’s mammoth weekly six-figure wages still fail to align with his goal returns, despite an upturn on previous seasons.
Palace may need to squeeze every penny to finance a potential summer rebuild in what will be a major turning point in the club’s recent history – and shaving Benteke’s unjustified wages off the club’s books could be a bold first step in that endeavour.
In other news: Palace pundit discusses potential exit of much-maligned midfielder