Crystal Palace agree £32m transfer fee for Christian Benteke

Crystal Palace have agreed a £32m fee with Liverpool for Christian Benteke, according to Sky sources.

Palace have agreed to make Benteke the most expensive signing in their history, and the striker will now have a medical and talk terms in London.

Liverpool paid Aston Villa £32.5m for Benteke a year ago and have been holding out for a similar fee despite the player falling out of favour under Jurgen Klopp.

The Reds manager said earlier this month “it makes sense” for Benteke to move on, and it is understood Palace are prepared to pay an initial £27m plus £5m in add-ons.

Alan Pardew is short of forward players after the departures of Emmanuel Adebayor, Dwight Gayle and Marouane Chamakh, and the Palace boss has money to spend after selling Yannick Bolasie to Everton for £28m.

A previous bid, worth £23m up front and £7m in add-ons, was rejected by Liverpool earlier this week.

Klopp did not include the Belgium international in his squad for Sunday’s win at Arsenal despite the absence of Daniel Sturridge. Sky Sports