Chelsea chasing Benteke in their search for giant
CHELSEA are exploring a loan move for Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke as their search for a target man drags on.
Antonio Conte is desperate to sign a tall striker with Premier League experience this month to help his side’s top-four push.
Chelsea are keen to take the Belgium international on loan but Palace are unwilling to consider a temporary switch. However, if the price is right they could be tempted into selling the striker on a permanent basis.
Benteke cost Palace £27million in August 2016 and they would look to recoup as much of that fee as possible. Chelsea’s preference for a loan deal is linked to Conte’s expected departure at the end of the season — the club preferring to save money in order to fund a new manager’s buying.
As time runs out, however, Chelsea may be forced to commit a substantial transfer fee to ensuring they bring a striker to the club.
Palace would use the money from any Benteke sale to fund a move for Inter Milan striker Eder, a Brazilian-born Italy international.
Andy Carroll, Edin Dzeko and Peter Crouch are among the strikers Chelsea have considered so far.
But a move for Carroll now looks unlikely after West Ham manager David Moyes confirmed the England forward may need surgery on an ankle injury. The Scot said: ‘Andy went for a scan and it showed up that he has got a problem.
‘We are not sure whether the ankle will need an operation or not. We are getting two or three specialists to look at it and then we will be able to make the correct decision. Hopefully we will know within a week
‘To lose him takes away a big part of our armoury. It is frustrating for Andy, but it is frustrating for us.
‘Andy gives us another option and alters the way other teams play against you, sso to lose him is certainly a bibig miss.’ MMeanwhile, Conte has coconceded winger Pedro dived in the FA Cup win against NoNorwich on Wednesday night.
PPedro, Willian and Alvaro Morata were all booked by referee Graham Scott for simulation as Chelsea went through on penalties.
Two players were then sent off for second yellow cards — Pedro for a wild lunge and Morata for protesting his first booking.
Conte defended Willian and Morata but could not exonerate Spain forward Pedro.
The Chelsea manager said: ‘I must be honest, I watched the three situations against Norwich. The Willian situation is very clear, it was a big mistake (from the referee). Morata, there is a foul and then you can decide to give a penalty or not. There is contact, it’s not diving.
‘Pedro — we must be honest — we have to accept he is diving. The player in this situation is intelligent enough to understand his mistake and in this case he understood his mistake.’