Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce is considering sacrificing Christian Benteke to raise transfer cash.
Allardyce is reluctant to part with the club-record £30million summer-signing, but wants funds to shake up the squad and save the struggling Eagles from relegation.
Striker Benteke was bought from Liverpool by Allardyce’s predecessor Alan Pardew last August and Palace would want all their money back. But Big Sam, whose January transfer business rescued Sunderland from the drop last season, has his own targets in mind.
He has already had a £9.5m bid for Leicester winger Jeffrey Schlupp turned down.Allardyce is also keen on Norwich midfielder Robbie Brady and is hunting another striker, after being told by relegation-scrap rivals and former employers Sunderland that Jermain Defoe is not for sale.
In addition, a number of Chinese clubs are thought to be interested in £100,000-a-week Benteke including Beijing Guoan, one of the richest teams in the Super League. Although Palace have yet to receive any offers.
Benteke’s arrival was considered to a be a sign of the progress made by the South Londoners, and the Belgium international has scored eight times in 18 appearances.
The move from Liverpool was also a fresh start for a player frozen out by Jurgen Klopp once the German had replaced Brendan Rodgers, the manager who bought him from Aston Villa.
But the 26-year-old has not scored for five matches and his performances in some games ended up costing Palace vital points ahead of Pardew’s sacking last month.
The former Villa Park favourite was heavily criticised for his marking at set-pieces during a 5-4 defeat at Swansea in November.
He also missed crucial penalties in a 1-0 home loss to West Ham in the same month and the Boxing Day draw at Watford.
* ALLARDYCE has appointed Sammy Lee as his assistant at Palace.
The two worked together at Bolton 10 years ago, and again briefly this season with the England national team.