It’s nothing new that Christian Benteke is being linked with a move to Everton. In the summer, Ronald Koeman was said to have been interested in bringing the Belgian to Goodison Park. Benteke, a target man in a similar mould to Romelu Lukaku, was seen as a possible successor to his compatriot. And now with Koeman gone and Sam Allardyce in charge, the upcoming transfer window is set to pick up where the mooted move last gathered traction in the summer.
Benteke has certainly regained some of the confidence he lost at Liverpool, despite some rough patches at Crystal Palace. Having moved to Anfield from Aston Villa in 2015 following a successful three year spell, Benteke came with the pressure of a £32.5M price tag and expectation that he could lead Liverpool’s attack with direct power and an aerial domination he had become synonymous with at Villa Park.
It all started so well too. A goal on his debut at Anfield, illustrated the responsibility of the role was not beyond him. Phillippe Coutinho, in an offside position, should have garnered the goal offside. But maybe luck was going to play its part in Benteke’s role at the club. Unfortunately for him, it was a false dawn.
Benteke never reached double figures with the club and what Brendan Rodgers saw in the player was ultimately irrelevant. Rodgers was gone by the October of 2015 and Jurgen Klopp came in. The German was unable to extract the desired level of performances from Benteke and decided to sell him in the 2016 summer transfer window.
At Crystal Palace, Benteke’s form has been mixed at times. However, despite criticisms, Benteke has shown a want to fight. There is a spirit in the 27-year-old that can’t be dismissed. And in January, when he was under pressure to score, he spoke of his want to fight to help the team survive the relegation battle.
And relevantly, his then manager, Allardyce, showed unquestioned faith in the player. When asked if he was considering selling the player in last year's winter transfer window, he said there was no chance that was happening. Benteke is a player that Allardyce works well with and trusts. Which adds further weight to the story that a move to Goodison is afoot.
Benteke finished the season with 15 goals, a good return for a team in a scrap. And while he has not set the goal scoring charts alight this season, his solitary premier league goal, must be tempered by the ligament damage he suffered in his knee in September, enforcing a lengthy lay-off.
Roy Hodgson said he had no answer as to why Benteke went against protocol when he grabbed the ball from Luka Milivojevic to take a penalty in their 2-2 draw with Bournemouth this month. Milivojevic is the appointed penalty taker, so there was surprise that turned to anger when Benteke missed a penalty for the fourth time in the calendar year. His goalless run continued.
But there’s a caveat. Because Benteke had a fine performance against Bournemouth. And it’s understandable that the disappointment of not being able to illustrate that with a goal, was a frustration. He may have been wrong to grab the ball for the penalty. But that was driven by a want to score, a want to succeed. And to prove he is a grafter, that he will fight.
When Benteke ended his barren run last weekend against Leicester, it was deserved. It was reflective of his form and his endeavours. And Allardyce will not only have seen that, but will have appreciated it. And that’s why the two men working together again at Everton, might just be the perfect fit.
