Palace seek to make Liverpool one Christian less

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Crystal Palace are in talks to sign striker Christian Benteke from Liverpool, according to SkySports sources.

Palace have returned to the negotiating table after their 25million pounds bid was turned down last month.

Liverpool value the striker at 32million pounds and believe that is fair considering the prices currently being paid for players by Premier League clubs.

Jurgen Klopp said at the weekend selling Benteke “makes sense” but warned interested clubs against trying to get the 25-year-old on the cheap.

Palace are keen to complete the deal before their first game of the season against West Brom on Saturday.

The Reds paid Aston Villa 32.5million pounds for Benteke last summer but the Belgium international striker started just eight Premier League games after Jurgen Klopp replaced Brendan Rodgers as manager.

ENGLAND

• Chelsea have not given up on signing Kalidou Koulibaly despite Napoli turning down an offer worth up to 42million pounds.
• Everton are closing in on the signing of Swansea City star Ashley Williams. The Toffees have offered 18million pounds for Sunderland defender Lamine Kone.
• Leicester are close to signing Deportivo La Coruna striker Lucas Perez in a 12.5million pounds deal.
• Arsenal face competition from Chelsea for Mauro Icardi after the Blues accepted defeat in their pursuit of Romelu Lukaku.
• West Brom have lined up West Ham striker Enner Valencia after their move for Diafra Sakho collapsed.
• Sunderland boss David Moyes wants to raid former club Manchester United for defender Paddy McNair.
• Juventus are eyeing a surprise 4million pounds move for Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul.

SPAIN

• Valencia are in talks with Manchester City regarding Eliaquim Mangala as a potential replacement for Arsenal target Shkodran Mustafi.
• Real Madrid expect to be officially informed of a one-year transfer ban by FIFA by the end of the week — increasing pressure on them to rush through Martin Odegaard’s pending loan deal. FIFA hit Real and Atletico Madrid with a one-year transfer ban in January but both clubs appealed against the decision.
• Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen are vying for the signature of 17-year-old Norwegian with West Ham also showing an interest in the player who Real left out of their European Super Cup squad on Monday.

FRANCE

• Paris St-Germain have finished their transfer business for the summer, according to the club’s president.

Sources: BBC, SkySports, soccernet.com, DailyMail