Jack Pierce has been speaking on the latest edition of the FYP podcast to discuss all things Crystal Palace related following their defeat against Southampton.
One topic of discussion was the future of Christian Benteke with the Belgian’s contract set to expire at the end of this 2020/21 campaign.
Should Benteke be given a new deal?
Yes
No
The £120k-per-week striker has enjoyed a much improved 2020/21 season with the striker only netting twice all of last season in the Premier League.
Benteke netted the opening goal in their midweek defeat at St. Mary’s on the weekend and has four goals in his last eight league appearances.
Discussing the Belgian’s improved 2020/21 campaign, Pierce commented on his future given his contract is set to expire in June.
He said (20:40): “His confidence must be booming. He’s playing so well away from the goal as well, at the moment, you can see the confidence building through him.
“But yeah, the point stands if we were to lose him, to replace him, you are looking at tens of millions of pounds in transfer outlay.
“He’s clearly settled in the area, salary is an issue between him and the club, I’m sure there are discussions ongoing.
“But as Kevin said, it probably does depend on the manager given the outlay in wages that his extended contract would require. You would think it would need the consent of the new manager to approve it to ensure that he doesn’t think that the money could be spent better elsewhere.”
TIF Thoughts on Benteke’s future…
Benteke has certainly had a better season this campaign than he did last. Pierce commented on the potential costs Palace would undertake in order to improve on Benteke and given that he feels they should try to work on a new contract with the Belgian.
The pundit did have concerns over how much money Benteke would want and we wonder whether a striker reportedly earning £120k-per-week should be scoring more than eight goals in a whole season?
As Pierce mentions, it will be interesting to see where Benteke’s future does lie if a new manager is brought in this summer.
In other news: ‘It’s a risk for Palace’ – Simon Jordan reacts as CPFC managerial development emerges