Aston Villa boss, Tim Sherwood has confirmed to BBC Sport, that his star player Christian Benteke, has a buy out clause and fears losing him this summer.
Benteke, who is 25 years old and has scored 42 goals in 88 appearances for Villa, including 15 goals this season, which when you take into account, him being injured for a period of time before Christmas, is a good tally, especially in a struggling side, has been a target for Liverpool for a while now.
Sherwood’s comments today, seems to be opening the exit door, the buy out clause is rumoured to be £32.5 million, however, Sherwood has made it very clear he does not wish to sell, or that the player has indicated his wish to leave.
Liverpool have been linked with a £30m bid which is likely to be made after this weekend’s FA Cup final.
The manager has given a story of caution to Benteke advising him that moving a summer before the European Championships, is a risk as at Villa he will play first team football and moving to another club he could jeopardize playing regularly thus putting his international position in doubt.
Writers View – To me this statement by the Villa manager is the start of the process when a club makes a bid below buy out clause, gets declined, then another bid comes in etc. Benteke will be off this summer, question is where, Liverpool are favourites. I get Sherwood’s note of caution, but as this writer is a Welshman, who says Belgium will even qualify for the European Championships, Sherwood! 😉