Ronald Koeman wants a former Reds forward to lead the line for Everton next season.
With Romelu Lukaku’s move to Manchester United confirmed on Monday and Wayne Rooney playing a deeper role in recent years, it’s understood that the Toffees boss is in the market for an out-and-out centre-forward for the 2017/18 campaign.
Everton have not been shy on the spending front this summer, having also brought in Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane and Davy Klaassen for big money in recent weeks.
And as they look to find a fitting replacement for Lukaku, they’re reportedly looking very interestedly at the 24-year-old’s international compatriot, Christian Benteke.
Everton ready to spend big for Christian Benteke.
Full story: https://t.co/GIs0zkXCyU pic.twitter.com/cnOTyPgxWJ
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 11, 2017
Crystal Palace’s Benteke is a similar sort of player to Lukaku in that both hold up play well, are tremendously strong and pose aerial threats in the box.
Benteke played for Liverpool for one season, in which he scored just 10 goals in all competitions, but Koeman is seemingly eager to have him follow in the footsteps of Peter Beardsley, Gary Ablett and Don Hutchison as players to have featured for both Liverpool and Everton.
Sky Sports report that the Toffees are considering a move for Benteke, who found the net on 17 occasions for Palace last season.
If Koeman does put some of the significant Lukaku fee to good use and bring in his fellow Belgium international, the Goodison Park outfit would certainly look in decent nick for the season ahead once some injuries sort themselves out.
