“This is going to be a team in transition this season”. With the likes of John Stones going for almost £50m, this is not an exaggerated sum in this day and age.
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The Black Eagles have held talks with Liverpool and feel Benteke joining on a temporary move would be a win-win scenario for both clubs.
Pardew switched Zaha and Townsend to opposite flanks for the second half and the adjustment nearly yielded immediate results when Zaha was denied twice by Ben Foster after breaking clean through the Baggies’ defence. This was a professional and drilled performance from the Baggies, the kind of victory Pulis has built a career on. They are the most important people at the club and they have been waiting to see new faces.
The 25-year-old Belgium worldwide has fallen down the Anfield pecking order since Jurgen Klopp’s arrival, prompting a number of clubs to show interest in the striker ahead of the new season.
From a 74th-minute right-wing free-kick, he crossed towards Rondon and the striker, under little pressure, comfortably headed beyond Hennessey inside the far post.
While the matches between the two sides during the last five occasions have not always been very entertaining, they have been competitive with West Brom winning 2 out of those five encounters and Crystal Palace winning just 1.
Benteke’s agent Eris Kismet told Turkish-football.com, that the Reds asking price is making it hard for the clubs interested to sign the striker.
Surging away from Jonas Olsson and the half-way line, he was one-on-one with Ben Foster, who timed his decision to rush the winger perfectly, and snaffled his shot at his feet.
Pardew responded by bringing on Cabaye for Jason Puncheon, but at that point the absence of £10million signing James Tomkins seemed more relevant.
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Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew has dismissed reports claiming that forward Yannick Bolasie is on the verge of signing for Premier League rivals Everton.
