Steve Parish admits he thought the fee Crystal Palace paid for Christian Benteke was madness

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The Palace chairman was far from convinced about the deal at first, but admits his doubts have already been alleviated.

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has admitted, as quoted by Football365, that he thought paying £27 million for Christian Benteke was “madness” but insisted that his doubts have already evaporated after meeting the striker.

Palace paid the club-record sum to bring Benteke to Selhurst Park from Liverpool this summer and he is now likely to spearhead their attack for the remainder of the season.

The Belgian did not enjoy a successful season at Anfield, starting just 20 of his 42 appearances in all competitions, although he still managed to score 10 times for the Reds.

Before that, the 25-year-old has netted 49 goals in 101 appearances for Aston Villa, and it is likely to have been primarily that record that convinced the Eagles to splash out on his signature.

However, Parish has admitted that he initially could not believe the sum that the club’s American investors and how co-owners were willing to spend on the Belgium internationa.

Parish said, via Football365: “I thought it was madness. You do wrap your head around it, but looking at it now, I don’t think it was outrageous. To sign a striker with that track record, there aren’t many of them around.

“I watched him at Liverpool and he still did okay. They probably didn’t suit him as well, with the way they are playing – he needs to get crosses in for him.

“Any doubts that I may have had evaporated as soon as I met him. He is a player that cares and he wanted to come to the football club and I have great faith also that he will get goals.”

Palace also brought in Chelsea striker Loic Remy on a season-long loan deal, and in Benteke and Remy they now look to have two top-class Premier League forwards to build their attack around.

It remains to be seen whether manager Alan Pardew will attempt to form a partnership between the pair, or whether they will alternate leading the line for the club this term.