Christian Benteke set for sensational Crystal Palace exit after agreeing deal abroad

Christian Benteke is close to leaving Crystal Palace after he asked to be left out of the game against Arsenal tonight.

The striker has fallen down the pecking order at Palace, and the Washington Post is reporting that he is close to a move to Wayne Rooney’s DC United.

According to reports in the US, DC United and Crystal Palace have agreed a sensational deal that will allow the striker become the highest paid in the history of the club.

It is thought the Belgian’s salary will eclipse the $2.7million Wayne Rooney himself earned when he played at the club.

Last season, Benteke started the season as the lead striker but saw his position taken by the young Jean-Philipe Mateta and Odsonne Edouard, who arrived from Celtic.

He looks set to leave the Premier League with 86 goals having had spells with Aston Villa, Liverpool and Palace.

England legend Rooney admitted he was looking at bringing the striker in, but was yet to confirm if the deal had crossed the line.

He is quoted in the Washington Post: “We were trying to get something over the line or close to done while the game was going on, so I don’t have any update on that yet.

“So I’ll be checking on that now when I go in.  It could be difficult in terms of the time frame, but we are trying to get at least one more player done.”

Wayne Rooney’s side have just the six wins from their 22 games in the Eastern Conference of MLS and will hope that the Belgian forward will be the spark they need to move from the bottom of the league.