Benteke, Palace are building well

TRANSFER TALK

I spoke recently about the elevation in TV revenue and the difference in revenue between the Premier League and the Championship.

Objective number one for a promoted side is to simply stay in the division and then use the second years income and increased sponsorship opportunities to build a squad that is capable of moving the side to mid-table. All pretty obvious, but crucial this season, it's why Newcastle spend so much in the January transfer window and brought in a manager who has won things, staying in the Premier League was vital. If they don't come back at the first attempt they could start to struggle financially again and they are the 7th richest club in the country, we are the 6th.

Look at the difference in player that Hull City are linked with and a club like Crystal Palace are linked with.

Crystal Palace came up and stayed in the division, finished 10th in 2-14/15 and looked comfortable this season until they made it to the FA Cup Final, then their league form disappeared leaving them in 15th place.

Strikers keep you in divisions, strikers win you games and Palace having taken Adebayor (1 goal in 15 games) on loan last season seem to be in the market for a proven goalscorer. Linked with Robin van Persie recently, their main target seems to be Christian Benteke. He needs a side who cross the ball to be seen at his best and having has a £25m (€29.37m - AUS$43.71m - US$32.61m) bid rejected, it seems they are going to up the bid in an effort to reach an agreement. He would surely thrive on the service provided by recent new signing Andros Townsend, if he is played on the left as a traditional winger.

Palace are a club I have always liked since the days of Peter Taylor, who came to Tottenham of course, played for England, managed the Under-21 side very successfully and stood in as England manager, throwing a youthful England side onto the pitch, who did well. His stock has gone down since but the affinity with Crystal Palace hasn't.

Alan Pardew looks as though he could be building a decent side at Crystal Palace for next season. He has bought 27-year-old James Tomkins from West Ham United for £10-million (€11.75m - AUS$17.48m - US$13.04m).

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