Poll Reaction: Benteke would be perfect Crystal Palace signing

Alan Pardew should put all his effort into securing the signing of Christian Benteke for Crystal Palace.

That’s the verdict of today’s Ladbrokes Twitter poll, which quizzed fans on which striker the Eagles boss should swoop for before the transfer window slams shut.

And the Belgian forward swept aside the competition with a mammoth 58 per cent of the vote.

Despite a difficult season at Liverpool in which the 25-year-old scored just nine Premier League goals, the powerful hitman’s three-year stint at Aston Villa – in which he scored 49 goals in 101 games – means his reputation has not been tarnished by those Anfield struggles.

And with Benteke now just 2/5 to make the move to Selhurst Park, it looks like the majority of today’s voters will get their wish of seeing him in the famous blue and red.

Which striker should Palace sign? #CPFC

— Ladbrokes (@Ladbrokes) July 29, 2016

In second place was West Brom’s enigmatic forward Saido Berahino. The Baggies man won over 37 per cent of you with his electric pace and slick finishing, though chances are he could have edged this poll were it not for his bad-boy reputation.

However, it seems that Pardew may be willing to look past Berahino’s off-field antics and reward him with a move to the south London outfit, with odds of 6/4 for the Bujumbura native to join the 2016 FA Cup Finalists.

In last place was ‘Other’ with just 5 per cent, with voters clearly tipping Benteke and Berahino as the best buys.

However, suggestions from that minority of voters ranged from the intriguing – Edin Dzeko – to the slightly desperate, with one fan backing the Eagles to sign a deal with any striker who would accept them!

Palace begin the season by hosting West Brom, with Evens for the hosts to taste victory. But will they line up with Benteke – or current Baggies man Berahino – in their starting XI?

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing