Is Christian Benteke worth £32m?!

Crystal Palace are set to smash their transfer record to sign Liverpool striker Christian Benteke for £32 million in what has to be seen as a major transfer gamble.

The big Belgium netted just nine goals in 29 league appearances for Liverpool last year, following a £32.5 million summer switch from Aston Villa.

He was deemed a failure on Merseyside with Jurgen Klopp unwiling to give him anymore chances to impress this term. For Liverpool to make their money back on such a flop has to be seen as a major coup for the club.

But for Palace, it's a gamble. Alan Pardew's side got off to a poor start to the new season, losing 1-0 at home to West Brom last Saturday, but the signing of Benteke does not guarantee an upturn in results.

Benteke performed well as a big fish in a small pond at Villa and will hope to thrive in a similar role at Selhurst Park. But the Eagles are set to break their transfer record by almost £20 million to bring him in for an initial £27 million, plus £5 million in add-ons.

There will be immediate pressure on the big man's shoulders and he will need to start delivering quickly to prevent critics getting on his back as they did so quickly at Liverpool 12 months ago.

He has proven he can be a deadly Premier League goalscorer since moving to England in 2012 but defenders now know his game, and he has not got near to bettering the 19-goal tally he produced in his debut campaign.

The Eagles will hope Beneteke can help them soar to success. But it's fair to say the price tag ramps expectation levels up and it remains to be seen whether the big Belgian still has the fight to prove his worth in the top flight.