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Alan Pardew says Benteke would be perfect for Newcastle United

8 years ago
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Alan Pardew says that Christian Benteke would be an ideal player for Newcastle United.

As he prepares to complete the striker’s move to Selhurst Park, the former Newcastle boss says that Benteke would have been a ‘fantastic fit’ for NUFC.

The striker moved from Villa to Liverpool in summer 2015 for over £30m and now is moving on for a similar amount to Crystal Palace, after never really convincing at Anfield.

Benteke scoring nine goals in 14 Premier League starts, plus another 15 as a substitute.

As he looks forward to the Belgian’s arrival at Palace, Alan Pardew said that he ‘wanted to take him to Newcastle’.

Benteke moved from Standard Liege to Genk for £800,000 in summer 2011 and then a year later Villa paid £7m, Pardew had already jumped ship at Newcastle by the time the striker moved to Anfield last summer – so anybody’s guess at what time Pardew thought he might allegedly) have ended up at St James Park.

A bit of a shame that back in summer 2012 Newcastle hadn’t invested in a striker of Benteke’s quality, after finishing fifth Mike Ashley refused to allow proper investment to build on that breakthrough season.

Only Vurnon Anita came in and Newcastle of course were nearly relegated in 2012/13, whilst Christian Benteke was knocking in 19 goals for Villa in only 32 Premier League starts (plus two as sub).

Alan Pardew:

“I wanted to take him (Christian Benteke) to Newcastle, I thought he’d be a fantastic fit for that club.

“He got a move to Liverpool and it has not quite worked out.

“For us to get him back to what he does best, his style of play and the way he feeds off crosses – we’re the top crossing team in the Premier League bar one. With the wide players we’ve got he is going to get that.

“Of course we are talking about a player who is not ours yet.

“We know up that the top of the pitch we are a little bit shy, I can see a spring in everybody’s step with this news.”

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