Christian Benteke in-demand this summer

Aston Villa’s in-form striker Christian Benteke is being linked with a summer move

Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke could be one of the most in-demand Premier League players this summer after rediscovering his best form in front of goal in recent months.

Form

For a long time this season Christian Benteke cut a frustrating figure in front of goal.

However, somehow Benteke has scored 15 goals this season in a Villa team that had struggled to find the net until the arrival of former-Spurs boss Tim Sherwood.

Benteke has scored 11 goals in his last ten appearances in all competitions, which means he had found the net just four times previously this season.

Sherwood definitely seems to have helped the striker rediscover the form of his debut campaign when he scored 19 goals for the Villans in all competitions.

Benteke now has a record at Villa of 42 goals in 88 Premier League appearances. The striker is close to the ratio of a goal every other game, which by most strikers standards is a good record in the Premier League.

In-demand

Benteke has previously been linked with big money moves, but poor form and injuries last season seemed to halt that interest in the striker. However, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United are all being linked with £30million summer moves for Benteke.

Liverpool have emerged as favourites to sign Benteke this summer. The Reds are in desperate need of a proven striker this summer. Star striker Daniel Sturridge has been injury-prone this season, while their other strikers Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert have all disappointed when given the chance.

Liverpool’s North West rivals Manchester United could also be looking for a striker with loanee Radamel Falcao unlikely to sign on a permanent basis and Dutch star Robin van Persie being linked with a move to pastures new this summer.

Chelsea already have a world-class striker in Spanish international star Diego Costa and back-up in French striker Loic Remy. However, veteran forward Didier Drogba could move on this summer and the Blues may be in need of an extra striker.

Villa boss Tim Sherwood has said that he does not want the striker to leave, but stated that he would not stand in the way of a big move if the right offer came in for the in-form star.

Potential

Benteke seems to have a lot of potential and could become a truly world-class striker with the right team and the right nurturing. At 24, he has already shown that he can score goals in the Premier League and in a Villa team that has struggled in recent seasons.

Every top club in the Premier League seems to be looking to sign a prolific striker this summer and Benteke seems to fit the bill. He is big, strong and quick, which make him a handful for any defence.

If he was in a top team then no doubt he would score even more goals. With a number of the Premier League’s top clubs being mooted as possible summer destinations, it seems he may well be plying his trade elsewhere next season.

Unlikely

If as reported so many of the top clubs in the Premier League are interested in signing Benteke, then it seems that the Belgian is unlikely to stay at Villa, who have shown very little ambition in recent years, despite making it to the FA Cup final this season.

A move elsewhere could also be a lucrative one for the striker, with reports this morning suggesting that Liverpool would offer Benteke £100,000 a week, which is double his current weekly salary at Villa. I am sure the striker would find a summer move very tempting.

Villa boss Tim Sherwood does seem to have had a positive effect on Benteke since his arrival, but whether his influence will be enough to keep him at Villa remains to be seen.

One thing that is for sure this summer is that Benteke will have a host of options if he chooses to leave Villa and could be making an even bigger splash in the Premier League next season.

Will Christian Benteke still be at Aston Villa next season?