Allardyce: Benteke not for sale

Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce has denied reports that he is looking to sell Christian Benteke during the January transfer window.

Benteke only moved to Palace in a £32million move in the summer and is the club's top scorer with eight goals, but he has failed to find the net in his last five appearances.

Reports on Wednesday suggested that Allardyce was looking to offload the striker while it has been claimed that he could be in line for a swap deal with West Brom's Saido Berahino.

Allardyce, however, is adamant the Belgium international has a big part to play and will not be going anywhere during the current transfer window.

"Unless the chairman knows any different from me, Christian Benteke is not for sale," Allardyce told reporters ahead of the trip to West Ham on Saturday.

"Never say never but at the moment he is a Crystal Palace player. I am planning on him being here at the end of the window. He has a major part to play."

Allardyce is pleased with the attacking options at his disposal but is keen to strengthen his defence.

"My interest is in strengthening the defence, not the attack at this moment in time. When Wilfried Zaha comes back, and Bakary Sako, we have got good options on the front line. It is not a priority, but we need to secure more defensive players," he explained.

"We have got bids in for three or four players and will find out if they are successful later today."

He went on: "The aim was by the end of this week to secure one of the defenders we have bid for and that's not the case. It shows how difficult this window is.

"We are trying our best. The prices are quite steep. We have to live with those prices because for me it is a necessity we strengthen our defence.

"We only have three centre-backs and two full-backs."

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