When Liverpool announced the signing of Aston Villa’s savior Christian Benteke on a £32.5m deal around this time last summer, it raised many eyebrows among the Liverpool fans. Now, a year after the purchase, the Reds are trying frustratingly hard to get rid of the player. It has been a turbulent year for the Belgian international who, in fairness, is close to one of the best strikers in the Premier League. In his three seasons at the Villa Park, Benteke scored goals close to a rate of one every two games which cannot be said about his time at Liverpool as he failed to slot in the style of football.
However, that has not seen any reduce in demand for his signature with the likes of Crystal Palace interested in his signature since the start of the transfer window. Pardew has not been able to seal a deal, though, with the Reds who want to coup all of the £32.5m that they spent on him a year ago. And it is now understood that Tony Pulis’ West Bromwich Albion side are ready to a make a move for the Liverpool misfit. From the outside, a move for Benteke looks to be a match made in heaven for the Baggies but will he actually provide Pulis with enough next season to lift the club into the top half of the table.
Known for his aerial abilities and instinctive finishing, Christian Benteke is a strong traditional centre-forward who loves to hold the ball in the final third for his midfielders and attackers to join in the attack. He is a player who can score all types of goals (as he showed in his wonder strike against Manchester United early last season) and can easily turn the game on its head. He is not an exceptional dribbler or a skilled footballer but Benteke has all the attributes that make him a world class striker. His strength and positional sense also allow him to create chances for himself and for his teammates making himself an important player for any squad.
Even at Liverpool, Benteke managed to reach double figures in terms of goals and was not the worst player in the team. But the fact that Liverpool do not play to his strengths saw him starved of service which in turn affected his confidence. The constant abuse from the fans did not help his cause either and has left him with just one choice: to leave the club. However, at West Brom, he will be an instant hit with the fans. The Baggies lacked a player who can finish off chances in the final third and though Benteke missed a few sitters in a Liverpool shirt, he will finish most chances off when high on confidence.
Tony Pulis, if decides to spend big on the Belgian, will set up his team to play to his strengths and if Benteke can adjust well with the likes of Salomon Rondon, Matt Philips and James Morrison, he can be a great asset for the Baggies next season. He can lead the squad in attack and provide them with a natural goal-scoring threat that can help them get results from the weaker and the best sides in the league. Do you think Benteke should move to West Brom this summer?
