Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth: Christian Benteke calls for Wilfried Zaha to stay amid Tottenham interest

Crystal Palace 1 Bournemouth 1: Pardew, the Palace manager, insisted he was forced to name the winger among his substitutes because the player had been unsettled

Christian Benteke made his debut for Crystal Palace (Getty)

Christian Benteke has joined Alan Pardew in attempting to convince Wilfried Zaha his future lies with Crystal Palace, and not at White Hart Lane.

Zaha was the subject of a £12 million approach from Tottenham Hotspur and Pardew, the Palace manager, insisted he was forced to name the winger among his substitutes for Saturday’s meeting with Bournemouth because the player had been unsettled by the events of the week.

Spurs’ interest was dismissed out of hand by Steve Parish, the Palace chairman, and a grateful Pardew moved to restate his belief that Zaha’s interests are best served by staying put. Benteke, who became Palace’s club record signing when he arrived from Liverpool last weekend in a £27 million deal, revealed his has offered the 23-year-old his own thoughts on the matter and his view that Zaha should stay will only have been reinforced by the player’s 23-minute appearance that contributed to Palace’s recovery to claim a first point of the season.

“I came to Palace because of the way that they play,” said the forward. “It was good for me and the manager can get the best out of me. They can build a team around my qualities and abilities.” He added: “Everyone knows Wilf’s ability on the ball and he helped us a lot when he came on. Of course we’d like him to stay. I’ve spoken with him and tried to convince him to stay but that’s football.”

Benteke’s views are shared throughout the dressing room, according Joel Ward, the right-back. “The fans know Wilf and the character he is and how important he is to us,” said Ward. “The way he applied himself today and came on and did his job was fantastic. He set us alight when he came on. Would we like him to stay? Definitely. We want to take the club and keep pushing on so I hope we can do that with him staying and with some additions. We’re a team and we’re together. No matter what happens that has to stay – the cohesion of the team the togetherness and the fight we showed in the second half is what Palace is built on.”

Palace needed a second half response after falling behind to Josh King’s tenth minute opener and their cause wasn’t helped by Yohan Cabaye’s missed penalty, awarded for a tug on Benteke’s short by Bournemouth left back Charlie Daniels. “I asked Yohan if I could take and he said he was taking it. But next time I will take it,” said the forward.

Daniels admitted the decision highlighted the need for players to adapt to the stricter interpretation of the rules being implemented by officials this season. "The ref gave it because I was holding on to him. I think it was very soft, but to be honest I was grabbing him,” said Daniels. “I didn't realise at the time. They're the new rules that have come into the game and I have to hold my hands up and say I was in the wrong. We had a meeting and they said they wanted to clamp down on it and they have done it. If we can keep it consistent then it won't be a problem.”