I really wish this would get settled one way or the other. Then we can move on, do you know what I mean?

How can we put a Champions League clause in, when its a transitional season, and we have no chance of getting there? Unless its the whole length of his contract, and then, we still won't get there!

That's was what Liverpool press were getting steamed up about, £2.5 million of add-on fee but also linked to him scoring 20 goals and playing 70% of games.

Spliting it into 3 and making £1 million dependant on us getting into Europe during his contract is not unreasonable.

Benteke has an injury record so again an add-on related to number of games played is sensible.

The 20 goal target is too high but an addon with that sort of content is not stupid.

What is daft is linking the 3.

The clauses, in particular the champions league one, were over a four year period I read.

So they'd get their £2.5m if we got into the Champions League in the next 4 years - and I imagine that clause would have been extended with a lesser fee if he signed a new deal further down the line.

Still a tad ambitious on CPFC's part but it's quite telling in that I would expect it means a four year deal has been agreed with the player ahead of the fee being decided one way or another. Else the clause wouldn't have had that length of time attached.

It's all they have to try to exert leverage over the Palace. And this isn't exactly strong now is it? Of course they won't lend him out. Silly season.

It does, however, mean pay up or hang up. A strong enough message to Palace.

Denial is not just a river in Egypt!