Report: Crystal Palace Launch £25m bid for Liverpool Striker

After informally indicating their interest in Liverpool striker Christian Benteke for the past few weeks, Crystal Palace have now lodged an official bid of £25m for the Belgian striker, as per Guardian.

Crystal Palace have shown their financial muscle in the past few weeks with the acquisitions of French goalkeeper Steve Mandanda and English winger Andres Townsend.

Mandanda, who has joined the Eagles from French Club Marseille, signed a three-year contract with Crystal Palace after Marseille accepted a £1.4m offer from the Eagles.

Although he is 31, Mandanda has the ability to be one of the best goalkeepers in the league.

Townsend has been acquired from Championship club Newcastle after the Eagles agreed to activate his release clause, which is believed to be in the region of £13m.

Thus, if the aforementioned transfers are anything to go by, Crystal Palace have already epitomized their financial power in the transfer market.

As for Benteke, the striker first appeared on the Crystal Palace radar in January after Jurgen Klopp repeatedly eradicated the Belgian from his starting XI.

Despite seeing this bid, Liverpool are reportedly adamant of not selling the striker for less than £30m.

However, at a time when they have already secured the potential successor of Benteke in the shape of Sadio Mane, Liverpool might be tempted in the coming days to sell the Belgian, just 1-year after paying £32.5m for his services to Aston Villa.