Everton are reportedly keen on Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke.
Everton have now sold striker Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United in a blockbuster deal – and their search for a replacement has taken them to Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke.
The Toffees have so far focused on bringing in new signings having landed the likes of Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane, Davy Klaassen, Wayne Rooney and Sandro Ramirez, but their big expected outgoing has come true in Lukaku.
Michael Keane in action with Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke
With 25 league goals to his name last season, Lukaku won’t be easy to replace for Everton, but they appear to be targeting one of his Belgian international team-mates.
The Daily Mail report that Everton are pursuing a move for Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke, just a year since he left Merseyside rivals Liverpool for a switch to Selhurst Park.
Benteke, 26, endured a difficult time with Liverpool but did prove his goalscoring quality again with Palace, scoring 17 goals in 40 games for the Eagles.
It’s now claimed that Everton are interested in handing Benteke a return to Merseyside as manager Ronald Koeman searched for a big, physical centre forward, with Benteke fitting the bill.
Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke in action with Watford’s Younes Kaboul
Unsurprisingly though, rumours of Benteke’s potential move to Everton has sparked a reaction from fans, with many believing that he would be a poor signing, and could even undo all the good work Everton have done in the transfer market so far this summer.
Others do think that Benteke could offer Koeman a proven Premier League goalscorer following Lukaku’s departure, but the general feeling is that the ex-Liverpool striker wouldn’t be the most popular signing for Everton.
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