Crystal Palace have snapped up Christian Benteke’s brother, Jonathan.
General view of Selhurst Park
According to the Daily Mail, Zulte Waregem want an £85,000 compensation fee for Jonathan Benteke, after the striker joined Crystal Palace last month.
Palace boosted their attacking options this summer by landing Loic Remy on loan from Chelsea and Christian Benteke from Liverpool, but they’ve now made a fascinating move by signing Benteke’s younger brother Jonathan.
Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke
The Eagles confirmed on their official website earlier this week that the young striker had penned a deal with the club, and has been placed in their development squad rather than the first team for this season.
The 21-year-old attacker came up through the ranks with Standard Liege before a spell with Visé, but after just one year there he moved back to the Belgian top flight with Zulte Waregem.
Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew
After scoring just twice in 18 games for Zulte, the Daily Mail claim that the two parties agreed a mutual termination of his contract over the summer, allowing Benteke to find a new club – and he just happens to have followed his brother Christian to Selhurst Park.
Despite being allowed to leave the Belgian side, it’s added that Zulte now want a fee of £85,000 to compensate for their investment in the player over the last two years.
Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke appeals to Mike Dean
It’s no great fee to Palace, but maybe something of a surprise given Benteke’s free agent status over the summer, and even after the transfer window has closed, the Eagles may end up having to fork over a small portion of money.
Benteke has only joined on a one-year deal and will hope to stay alongside his older at Selhurst Park for years to come having joined together in an interesting quirk this summer.
Would you like to see the Benteke brothers in attack for Palace one day?
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