da poker： According to reports in the Daily Mail, Everton are considering signing Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke as Romelu Lukaku’s replacement if they can’t complete a deal for Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud.
da jogodeouro： Toffees manager Ronald Koeman is looking for a new centre-forward after Lukaku completed his big-money move to Manchester United on Monday, and he had been keen to bring Giroud to Goodison Park.
However, The Mirror says Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has hinted that the Frenchman could yet stay with the north London outfit this summer despite the arrival of Alexandre Lacazette, meaning Koeman will have to turn his attentions elsewhere.
The Eagles striker is the latest name to be linked with the Merseyside club after enjoying an impressive season with Palace following a club-record £27m move from Liverpool last summer, and he could be exactly what they need alongside new addition Sandro Ramirez up top.
Here are three reasons Everton target Benteke would be the perfect Lukaku replacement…
Goals
Having scored 43 Premier League goals in the last two seasons for Everton – and a career best tally of 25 last year – Ronald Koeman knows that he needs to find a player that can try and replace those goals.
While Benteke was considered to be a flop at Liverpool, he still netted nine goals in 29 top flight appearances for the Reds but it is record at Aston Villa and Crystal Palace that suggest he can be a regular goalscorer at Goodison Park.
The 26-year-old netted 42 league goals in 89 games for Villa and 15 in 36 for the Eagles last term, and that record is especially impressive considering he was playing for teams that were often struggling at the wrong end of the table.
He is a talisman
As we mentioned previously, Benteke has proven to be something of a talisman during spells with both Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, and his goals last season are one of the main reasons that the Eagles narrowly avoided relegation to the Championship.
In that respect, the 26-year-old has proven that he is something of talisman for his clubs and it is similar to Lukaku, who has been so important to Everton – especially last term when his goals led them to the Europa League.
Strength and experience
Lukaku was an imposing figure up top for Everton and Benteke certainly has the presence and strength to do the same if the Toffees bring him to Goodison Park.
The 26-year-old is particularly strong in the air and at holding the ball up, but he also showed that he does have some technical ability too following his brilliant dink over Thibaut Courtois for Palace at Stamford Bridge last season.
The fact that the Belgian has also made more than 150 appearances mean that he knows the league well, and that experience will be key to the striker hitting the ground running if he does join the Merseyside outfit.
Do you agree, Everton fans? Let us know below.