Transfer Centre

Christian Benteke "very happy" at Crystal Palace

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 21 July 2017

Christian Benteke says that he is "looking forward" to working under Frank de Boer this season, as he aims to find his feet heading into next year's World Cup.

Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke has insisted that he is "very happy" with life at Selhurst Park and is not interested in a move away.

The 26-year-old was recently linked with a switch to big-spending Everton, while Chelsea have also reportedly shown an interest as a back-up to incoming Alvaro Morata.

Belgium international Benteke believes that it is important he plays regular football during the coming campaign with the World Cup looming, however, which he is confident will be the case if he remains at current club Palace.

"I'm very happy," he told reporters. "I want to be part of the project of the manager and I'm looking forward for this new season. I want to perform and to score more goals and to really help the team to reach where they want to be.

"Since we came back for preseason I didn't really want to talk, but I want to be here. There's the World Cup and that's an important aspect of being with the club and you have to perform to be part of that group.

"I think with the squad that we have and the players that are coming we have to be really ambitious and have to try to play our best in the league."

Palace boss Frank de Boer, who is on the lookout for new signings, declared earlier this week that he is confident of fending off any interest in his star striker.