---
title: "Journalist says Christian Benteke’s end of season form earned him new Palace contract"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/journalist-says-christian-bentekes-end-of-season-form-earned-him-new-palace-contract/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Jake Sanders"
section: "Crystal Palace"
published: "2021-08-03T17:40:24Z"
modified: "2021-08-03T17:40:24Z"
---

# Journalist says Christian Benteke’s end of season form earned him new Palace contract

**Sky Sports journalist [Michael Bridge](https://twitter.com/MichaelBridge_) told [The Transfer Tavern](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/) that Christian Benteke was going to be released by Crystal Palace until his end of season form earned him a new deal.**

The Belgian striker had scored just [three](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/christian-benteke/leistungsdaten/spieler/50201/plus/0?saison=2020) goals in his first 17 Premier League appearances last season but enjoyed a blistering end to the season to reach [double figures](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/christian-benteke/leistungsdaten/spieler/50201/plus/0?saison=2020) for the first time in four years.

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Benteke ended up netting seven times in his final 13 league outings, including goals against Spurs, Chelsea, and Arsenal to help Palace finish 14th.

Prior to penning a contract [extension](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57343762), the 30-year-old was on course to end his five-year affiliation with the Eagles, with his red-hot campaign-ending form eventually proving decisive.

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Benteke’s Crystal Palace career has been largely forgetful, scoring just six goals across 75 games in a three-season period at one point.

And with those uninspiring goalscoring numbers in mind, Bridge told **The Transfer Tavern** that the former Aston Villa frontman, who featured just [once](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/christian-benteke/leistungsdaten/spieler/50201/plus/0?saison=2020) at Euro 2020 for Belgium, was on the verge of becoming a free agent:

*“Christian Benteke’s form earned him a new contract, let’s just get that clear.*

*“He was going to be one of those that was going. Benteke would have gone elsewhere, but he was impressive last season.”*