We have two loan players RLC & TF-M. The other recently signed player is Riedewald - who should be playing. Looking at the three we have two out of favour and one being used. With Sakho injured hopefully Riedewald and TF-M will get game time and impress - as Palace progress towards wins. The loan situation seems fairly simple. TF-M is known to be monitored by Man Utd management, and could be recalled (which he would accept if game time were promised. RLC, on return to Chelsea has little prospect of game time. Either TF-M being recalled, or RLC being converted from loan to contracted Palace player would release the needed loan position that would offer Roy an opportunity to view another player. I do wonder what Roy is seeing (that the public are not allowed to see) when the under 23s and younger developing players give match performances.

Go DIRECTLY to Giroud with plans for club; fans etc and all in the name of earnest football with guaranteed first team action. He might learn much from it all. Parish to spread to first and foremost?

So, list of possible Bentekre replacements, according to price:

GIROUD (Arsenal)- around 40 million
He comes from a top 6 side, so his price is very inflated. After 2 years with Palace he won;t be worth even half that sum. Giroud has been good for teams that attack, but what would he do in a second-half table team? He'd probably just be another Gabbiadini. Same height, same structure, same preffered foot, same (lack of) running. I'd go for a striker more accustomed with playing for low level teams than for Giroud. 40 million would be a massive investment. If Giroud doesn't live up to expectations, he'll be sold with a 20 million loss, which yells to me „possible beginning of bankruptcy”. This buy should be reallt well considered

STURRIDGE (Liverpool)- exactly the same as above (left footed player like Giroud, prominent goalscorer for attacking team, dubbet a bit lazy by fans), probably would cost a similar fee. Liverpool will probably not let him go in the winter though

BATSHUAYI (Chelsea)- frustrated with the lack of playing time there. Could only come on loan as he's done very well and would only be sold for 70 million or more

GAMEIRO (Atl Madrid)- around 35 million. If Giroud is linked, why not Gameiro?? A much better striker for a team like Palace, which plays a lot of counter attacking football. They paid 30 million for him, will sell for a little more, cause they're Atletico Madrid and the players' value goes up. Everton is very much linked with him. I'd pay this money for him if I had them. He'll probably go to a well known team though

ODION IGHALO (CC Yatai)- around 25 million
The Chinese bought him for 20 million, he did all right there, they would only sell in profit

JACKSON MARTINEZ (GZ Evergrande)- around 25 million. He was bought for much more by the Chinese, but hasn't played at all this season. They want to sell, cause his contract runs until December 2019 andd he has a big salary. We remember this beast from his Porto days

SLIMANI (Leicester)- around 20 million
Bought by Leicester for around 25, that's the maximum loss they'd accept

PLEA (Nice)- around 20 million. French strikers coming to the PL is a custom. He's one of the next ones. It only depends to which club

HALLER (Eintracht)- around 15 million. Another French striker, doing well in the Bundesliga after comnig from the Erredivisie

FLORIN ANDONE (Deportivo)- around 15 million, he had a falling out with the club cause they preferred Lucas Perez instead of him and it was unjust. He'll leave in January. They wanted 25 million, but now will probably sell for only 15. Really determined player. You wouldn;t say t by looking at him, but he's a beast

KHOUMA BABACAR (Fiorentina)- around 10 million. A fee was reportedly accepted from West Ham in the summer (13 million), but the transfer didn't go though (probbaly because he wants to play, not be second choice to Chicharito). Now, after not starting as single match this season, West Ham is not offering that much anymore.

BENIK AFOBE (Bournemouth)- around 10 million. They got him for that money and, although he's 4th choice now behind Josh King, Defoe and Wilson, they won't sell to a relegation rival for less

MIRALLAS (Everton)- around 10 million. He's only a winger in a 4-3-3. He's basically a striker, he was a striker in his first year at Everton, he was a striker at Olympiakos. He's only played winher cause Lukaku was the main man. He has some speed and skills, could be useful.

BROWN IDEYE (Tianjin)- around 10 million. Formerly of West Brom in the PL. Has done ok, but he was very appreciated at Olympiakos, Dynamo Kiev and in Ligue 1.

JOSEF MARTINEZ (Atlanta, MLS)- around 10 million, Unexplicably how Torino sold him in the summer for just 5 million. The Venezuelan has bagged 19 goals in 20 matches in the MLS. He was doing pretty well in the PL too. A striker a bit on the shorter side (1,72), so more like a second striker

NILS PETERSEN (Freiburg)- around 7 million. This is the best striker in the Bundesliga, outside of top teams, in terms to goals per minutes played ratio. He's just awesome. And he plays for Freiburg, a team that wouldn;t want MUCH money. But now, with the other striker's injury (Niederlechner), they'd want at least 6-7 million. Still, he's very much worth it.

BAFETIMBI GOMIS (Galatasaray)- around 7 million. I don;t know if Galatasaray would want to sell though, but they'd be tempted cause they only bought him for 2 million from Marseille. He has been on fire in the Turkish league this season and he has a good history in France

ENNER VALENCIA (Tigres)- around 7 million. Was very used as a starter in the PL, but in the playing time he got he offered a lot of assists. And even some goals. He's done really well in Mexico. He's one of the best South American strikers at international level.

ZE LUIS (Spartak Moscow)- around 7 million. A very strong striker, does well when sent in. Wonderful for Braga and Spartak, even in the Champions League. He's behind Luiz Adriano in the pecking order lately, they'd probably sell a substitute for 7 million

ADRIAN RAMOS (CQ Dangdai)- around 7 million. He's currently with Granada, he just went there to play in La Liga last year. He scored a lot of goals, but had no help as Granada was bottom last. They went down and in January he'll go back to the parent Chinese club. He was very, very effective in germany, with Hertha and Borussia Dortmund.

PAPPIS CISSE (SD Luneng)- around 7 million. Him and Demba Ba were in that Newcastle team a few years back, when they finished 5th. I'd have put Demba Ba on the list too, but he's out with a long term injury

LOIS DIONY (St Ettiene)- around 7 million. Was brought as a big hope, but is similar to Benteke this season. No goals and only 1 assist in 700 minutes.

RICHMOND BOAKYE (Red Star Belgrade)- around 5 million. This one's a bargain as a Serbian club would be happy with a small fee. He has Serie A and La Liga experience, but is not old at 24. He'd be playingwell from the 1st minue, cause he's just on fire this season. Don't know for the long term, but for short term he's cheap and great

DIAFRA SAKHO (West Ham)- around 5 million. Been linked before. He's a decent forward, but not high class. I think there were better forwards than him in Ligue 2, but he's the only one who was taken to the PL

DANNY INGS (Liverpool)- around 5 million. He was a promising young player, but injuries kept him away a really long time. He'd be a really big question mark and not reallly what Palace needs after Wickham and Remy

ULLOA (Leicester)- around 5 million. With only 400 minutes played in the last 2 years in the PL, would you buy him? He used to come in and score in their title winning season, but not playing causes you to lose form

OBAFEMI MARTINS (SH Shenua)- around 2-3 million. Kind of old, but does the dead. They even wanted to get rid of him this year, but he was just that goos that he got himself back into the team. They got him from the MLS, where he was the best player alongside Giovinco years in a row.

EMENIKE (Olympiakos)- around 2-3 million. He's a striker who doesn;t score much, but assists A LOT. Hasn't had much gametime for West Ham in the PL, but he has a lot of international and Champions League experience. He scored 3 times in the Champions League against Monaco last year.

WARIS MAJEED (Lorient)- around 2-3 million. We've been linked in the summer. They dropped in the second French division and he wants out. He's hardly played this season, so he'd only be an investment for the future IF he can be revived. He used to amaze the world at 20 when in Sweden

ASAMOAH GYAN (Kayserispor)- around 1 million. The manager doesn't want to play him, even though he has hardly played and still scored 3 times. The team is doing really well in Turkey, just behind the big 4 (Besiktas, Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Basaksehir). He was a beast when playing for Sunderland, but chose to play for incredible wages in the Middle East. He's the best African striker at international level

CHEICK DIABATE (Osmanlispor)- around 1 million. He's having a dispute with his Turkish club. They got him for free and just want to find another club which takes his wages (which are not even PL level). He used to do really well in France, but would need time to find his form again after not having played at all this season

RICKIE LAMBERT or CARLTON COLE- free. It says it all

I didn't name any players without good performances in a top 5 league (England, Spain, Germany, France) or at international level. This leaves out the likes of Dolberg (very risky coming from a football where they score a lot), Championship players.
Mounie would have been good, but Huddersfield got him first. Newcastle will not let Gayle go anymore after he's been their main threat this season. Abel Hernandez has a broken leg.
These are pretty much all the players in the world who could come in and replace Benteke. Take your pick!

Edited by mattteo (10 Dec 2017 3.57pm)

So, list of possible Bentekre replacements, according to price:

GIROUD (Arsenal)- around 40 million
He comes from a top 6 side, so his price is very inflated. After 2 years with Palace he won;t be worth even half that sum. Giroud has been good for teams that attack, but what would he do in a second-half table team? He'd probably just be another Gabbiadini. Same height, same structure, same preffered foot, same (lack of) running. I'd go for a striker more accustomed with playing for low level teams than for Giroud. 40 million would be a massive investment. If Giroud doesn't live up to expectations, he'll be sold with a 20 million loss, which yells to me „possible beginning of bankruptcy”. This buy should be reallt well considered

STURRIDGE (Liverpool)- exactly the same as above (left footed player like Giroud, prominent goalscorer for attacking team, dubbet a bit lazy by fans), probably would cost a similar fee. Liverpool will probably not let him go in the winter though

BATSHUAYI (Chelsea)- frustrated with the lack of playing time there. Could only come on loan as he's done very well and would only be sold for 70 million or more

GAMEIRO (Atl Madrid)- around 35 million. If Giroud is linked, why not Gameiro?? A much better striker for a team like Palace, which plays a lot of counter attacking football. They paid 30 million for him, will sell for a little more, cause they're Atletico Madrid and the players' value goes up. Everton is very much linked with him. I'd pay this money for him if I had them. He'll probably go to a well known team though

ODION IGHALO (CC Yatai)- around 25 million
The Chinese bought him for 20 million, he did all right there, they would only sell in profit

JACKSON MARTINEZ (GZ Evergrande)- around 25 million. He was bought for much more by the Chinese, but hasn't played at all this season. They want to sell, cause his contract runs until December 2019 andd he has a big salary. We remember this beast from his Porto days

SLIMANI (Leicester)- around 20 million
Bought by Leicester for around 25, that's the maximum loss they'd accept

PLEA (Nice)- around 20 million. French strikers coming to the PL is a custom. He's one of the next ones. It only depends to which club

HALLER (Eintracht)- around 15 million. Another French striker, doing well in the Bundesliga after comnig from the Erredivisie

FLORIN ANDONE (Deportivo)- around 15 million, he had a falling out with the club cause they preferred Lucas Perez instead of him and it was unjust. He'll leave in January. They wanted 25 million, but now will probably sell for only 15. Really determined player. You wouldn;t say t by looking at him, but he's a beast

KHOUMA BABACAR (Fiorentina)- around 10 million. A fee was reportedly accepted from West Ham in the summer (13 million), but the transfer didn't go though (probbaly because he wants to play, not be second choice to Chicharito). Now, after not starting as single match this season, West Ham is not offering that much anymore.

BENIK AFOBE (Bournemouth)- around 10 million. They got him for that money and, although he's 4th choice now behind Josh King, Defoe and Wilson, they won't sell to a relegation rival for less

MIRALLAS (Everton)- around 10 million. He's only a winger in a 4-3-3. He's basically a striker, he was a striker in his first year at Everton, he was a striker at Olympiakos. He's only played winher cause Lukaku was the main man. He has some speed and skills, could be useful.

BROWN IDEYE (Tianjin)- around 10 million. Formerly of West Brom in the PL. Has done ok, but he was very appreciated at Olympiakos, Dynamo Kiev and in Ligue 1.

JOSEF MARTINEZ (Atlanta, MLS)- around 10 million, Unexplicably how Torino sold him in the summer for just 5 million. The Venezuelan has bagged 19 goals in 20 matches in the MLS. He was doing pretty well in the PL too. A striker a bit on the shorter side (1,72), so more like a second striker

NILS PETERSEN (Freiburg)- around 7 million. This is the best striker in the Bundesliga, outside of top teams, in terms to goals per minutes played ratio. He's just awesome. And he plays for Freiburg, a team that wouldn;t want MUCH money. But now, with the other striker's injury (Niederlechner), they'd want at least 6-7 million. Still, he's very much worth it.

BAFETIMBI GOMIS (Galatasaray)- around 7 million. I don;t know if Galatasaray would want to sell though, but they'd be tempted cause they only bought him for 2 million from Marseille. He has been on fire in the Turkish league this season and he has a good history in France

ENNER VALENCIA (Tigres)- around 7 million. Was very used as a starter in the PL, but in the playing time he got he offered a lot of assists. And even some goals. He's done really well in Mexico. He's one of the best South American strikers at international level.

ZE LUIS (Spartak Moscow)- around 7 million. A very strong striker, does well when sent in. Wonderful for Braga and Spartak, even in the Champions League. He's behind Luiz Adriano in the pecking order lately, they'd probably sell a substitute for 7 million

ADRIAN RAMOS (CQ Dangdai)- around 7 million. He's currently with Granada, he just went there to play in La Liga last year. He scored a lot of goals, but had no help as Granada was bottom last. They went down and in January he'll go back to the parent Chinese club. He was very, very effective in germany, with Hertha and Borussia Dortmund.

PAPPIS CISSE (SD Luneng)- around 7 million. Him and Demba Ba were in that Newcastle team a few years back, when they finished 5th. I'd have put Demba Ba on the list too, but he's out with a long term injury

LOIS DIONY (St Ettiene)- around 7 million. Was brought as a big hope, but is similar to Benteke this season. No goals and only 1 assist in 700 minutes.

RICHMOND BOAKYE (Red Star Belgrade)- around 5 million. This one's a bargain as a Serbian club would be happy with a small fee. He has Serie A and La Liga experience, but is not old at 24. He'd be playingwell from the 1st minue, cause he's just on fire this season. Don't know for the long term, but for short term he's cheap and great

DIAFRA SAKHO (West Ham)- around 5 million. Been linked before. He's a decent forward, but not high class. I think there were better forwards than him in Ligue 2, but he's the only one who was taken to the PL

DANNY INGS (Liverpool)- around 5 million. He was a promising young player, but injuries kept him away a really long time. He'd be a really big question mark and not reallly what Palace needs after Wickham and Remy

ULLOA (Leicester)- around 5 million. With only 400 minutes played in the last 2 years in the PL, would you buy him? He used to come in and score in their title winning season, but not playing causes you to lose form

OBAFEMI MARTINS (SH Shenua)- around 2-3 million. Kind of old, but does the dead. They even wanted to get rid of him this year, but he was just that goos that he got himself back into the team. They got him from the MLS, where he was the best player alongside Giovinco years in a row.

EMENIKE (Olympiakos)- around 2-3 million. He's a striker who doesn;t score much, but assists A LOT. Hasn't had much gametime for West Ham in the PL, but he has a lot of international and Champions League experience. He scored 3 times in the Champions League against Monaco last year.

WARIS MAJEED (Lorient)- around 2-3 million. We've been linked in the summer. They dropped in the second French division and he wants out. He's hardly played this season, so he'd only be an investment for the future IF he can be revived. He used to amaze the world at 20 when in Sweden

ASAMOAH GYAN (Kayserispor)- around 1 million. The manager doesn't want to play him, even though he has hardly played and still scored 3 times. The team is doing really well in Turkey, just behind the big 4 (Besiktas, Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Basaksehir). He was a beast when playing for Sunderland, but chose to play for incredible wages in the Middle East. He's the best African striker at international level

CHEICK DIABATE (Osmanlispor)- around 1 million. He's having a dispute with his Turkish club. They got him for free and just want to find another club which takes his wages (which are not even PL level). He used to do really well in France, but would need time to find his form again after not having played at all this season

RICKIE LAMBERT or CARLTON COLE- free. It says it all

I didn't name any players without good performances in a top 5 league (England, Spain, Germany, France) or at international level. This leaves out the likes of Dolberg (very risky coming from a football where they score a lot), Championship players.
Mounie would have been good, but Huddersfield got him first. Newcastle will not let Gayle go anymore after he's been their main threat this season. Abel Hernandez has a broken leg.
These are pretty much all the players in the world who could come in and replace Benteke. Take your pick!

Edited by mattteo (10 Dec 2017 3.57pm)

Edited by mattteo (24 Dec 2017 9.38am)

A very detailed post; thanks for all the effort you put into it. As for the rumours, it's always hard to know if there's any truth in them. What are the chances of us selling Riedewald (probably to a Dutch club) to create space and funds? I imagine he was very much a De Boer signing. I do sometimes feel he is worth another try, but Roy & his team know best.