Spurs and Chelsea go head to head for Belgian youngster.
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Chelsea and Tottenham are facing up to the prospect of going head to head over Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke according to The London Evening Standard.
The Belgian youngster enjoyed a highly impressive debut season last year in the Premier League for Villa.
Such were the player’s performances, they persuaded Villa boss Paul Lambert to drop the club’s record signing, Darren Bent, and play Benteke on his own up front.
His goals proved vital in helping the club avoid relegation to the Championship and it was thought that Lambert was keen to build a team around the youngster.
But Benteke dashed any hopes of that when this week he handed in a transfer request to the Midlands club.
That was reluctantly accepted by Villa, who remain keen to hold onto him, and chairman Randy Lerner remains unlikely to sell Benteke for less than £25 million.
That may not prove too much of an obstacle for Chelsea or Spurs, with both having money to spend this summer.
Both clubs have already missed out on prior targets and are keen to secure a new striker before the start of the season.
Benteke is keen to push through a deal as he believes a move to a bigger club will significantly improve his chances of establishing himself in the Belgium national team for next summer’s World Cup.