Crystal Palace have released a statement confirming extensions to the contracts of Christian Benteke and James Tomkins.
The new deals agreed with the club see centre-back Tomkins remain until the end of the 2021/22 season, whilst out-of-form striker Benteke sees a year’s extension, up until the end of the 2020/21 campaign.
Both players arrived at Selhurst Park during the 2016/17 season and have since continued their long and varied careers memorably. Club record signing Benteke has made 98 appearances since his arrival from Liverpool, scoring 21 goals in that time.
Benteke has slumped in more recent goal-scoring records, only attaining a single goal in the Premier League last season, against London rivals Arsenal. He told the CPFC media team he was ‘very happy’ to have come to an agreement with the club.
Conversely, Tomkins joined from London rivals West Ham, where he himself was a worthy veteran that sprouted from their youth system. On arrival, he quickly established himself as a rounded, spritely defender and proved to be a bulwark at the back. He has featured in a respectable 87 appearances for the Eagles and is nearing a return to full fitness following the sustainment of a groin injury in April.
Tomkins gave special thanks to the fans for their support in a short statement released via the club website. The ‘support of the chairman, manager and staff’ are attributed by Tomkins, among many things, for his enjoyment of his job as a Palace player.
Read Crystal Palace’s Opinion:
There’s truly little to dislike about this news. Both were towards the latter end of their contracts; Tomkins has proven invaluable and Benteke leaving for free would be a disastrous loss of money.
Perhaps Palace could recuperate their loss?
