According to a report from the Birmingham Mail‘s transfer rumour mill this afternoon, Turkish giants Besiktas have taken the lead in the chase for Liverpool striker Christian Benteke, despite heavy interest from Crystal Palace and other potential suitors this summer.
Benteke has fallen massively out of favour at Anfield and is all set for an exit from the club this summer, with Palace and fellow Premier League competitors West Brom both said to have shown a firm interest in making a move for the Belgium international this month.
However, despite the solid interest from clubs within England, the 25-year-old forward is now looking likely to take the next step abroad; by joining Besiktas on a season long loan deal.
The report claims that the Turkish side are willing to cough up a sum of £3 million for the loan deal in order to prise him away from his ongoing nightmare on Merseyside and to take him off Liverpool’s hands for the coming season.
The fact that Palace appear to be losing ground in the chase for Benteke will be another disappointing turn in Alan Pardew’s summer, as The Eagles continue to struggle in their hunt for a new striker ahead of the coming season.
