Christian Benteke shelves transfer talk for a while as Aston Villa striker enjoys short break with girlfriend
- Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke has been relaxing on holiday with his girlfriend and shared a picture of the pair on Instagram
- The 24-year-old is currently subject to constant transfer speculation
- Benteke has two years left to run on his contract at Villa and has made it clear that he does not want to sign an extension
- Villa are reluctant to let Benteke to leave cheaply and will demand that any buyer will have to meet his £32.5million release clause
Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke took a break from the ongoing transfer speculation he finds himself embroiled in to enjoy some downtime with his girlfriend at a Latin American restaurant on holiday.
The 24-year-old Belgium international, who scored 15 goals last season in all competitions to help Villa avoid relegation from the Premier League and reach the FA Cup final, has been linked with a move away from the club.
Villa, however, are reluctant to sell their star man and are insisting that Benteke will not depart for any less than the £32.5million release clause written into his contract.
Scroll down for video
Aston Villa's Christian Benteke has cast transfer talk to one side to enjoy some downtime with his girlfriend
Benteke, 24, played a key role in helping Villa to retain their Premier League status last season
Benteke himself has made it clear that he is unwilling to sign an extension with Villa, but plenty of suitors are balking at the size of the price tag attached to him.
In forcing Benteke to run down his deal though, Villa are risking having an unhappy member of their squad next term.
Benteke joined Villa in 2012 for £7m from Genk and has since scored 49 goals in 99 games in English football.
With a record like that, in a team that has battled near the bottom of the table for the majority of recent seasons, it is no wonder that he has attracted plenty of interest from bigger sides.
At one stage or another, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City have all been credited with a desire to acquire the forward.
Benteke's impressive scoring record in English football has caught the eye of several top clubs
Villa are reluctant to sell their star player and are demanding a huge £32.5million fee to let him leave
- James Rodriguez reduces young fan to tears with kindness
- Liverpool new boy Roberto Firmino's 10 best Bundesliga goals
- Ana Ivanovic and Bastian Schweinsteiger arrive at WTA party
- Firmino scores 'no-look' goal for Brazil vs Chile at the...
- Coutinho, Sterling and Ibe in Liverpool dizzy penalties...
- Robin van Persie catches a SHARK while fishing on holiday
- Cavani attacker Jara has previous with Higuain and Suarez
- Liverpool new boy Firmino's audacious no-look goal for...
- Liverpool target Carlos Bacca's 25 best goals for Club...
- Guillermo Varela goal for Real Madird Castilla from Odegaard...
- Chile knock out Uruguay 1-0 in Copa America quarter finals
- Cavani sent off after two yellows and a finger in the bum
- Gonzalo Jara is the butt of the joke, as he's banned from...
- Real Madrid reject £35m Manchester United bid for Sergio...
- Top 50 most influential people in Premier League history -...
- Copa America 2015 Bolivia 1-3 Peru RESULT: Paolo Guerrero...
- Manchester United ace David de Gea adds fuel to Real Madrid...
- Gonzalo Jara to be sold by angry Mainz: The prod was bad,...
- Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas paying price for taking on...
- Barcelona must stump up over £85m for Manchester United...
- Copa America 2015 Chile 1-0 Uruguay REPORT: Edinson Cavani...
- Transfer news LIVE: Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool...
- Clint Dempsey banned from US Open Cup for TWO YEARS after...
- Paulinho on verge of signing for Chinese side Guangzhou...