Could Christian Benteke be heading for Manchester United in January?

Aston Villa and Belgium striker Christian Benteke is being linked with a move to Manchester United

According to reports in the Daily Mirror, Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke could be heading to Manchester United in the January transfer window.

United boss David Moyes is already believed to be under-pressure from the clubs American owners after signing just one player this summer in the shape of Marouane Fellaini from Everton.

Highly-rated

Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke is one of the many young Belgium internationals that grace the Premier League with their presence.

At just 22-years of age he is regarded as one of the best up-and-coming strikers in the English top-flight.

Doubts

Benteke had handed in a transfer request this summer, after just one season in the English top-flight with Villa. I suggest he was poorly advised, as just a few weeks later he signed an extension to his contract with the Villains.

Benteke was believed to be attracting the attention of the likes of Spurs and Arsenal, so when he handed in a transfer request it was expected that Villa would lose their star man this summer. However, Villa boss Paul Lambert did superbly well to talk the striker into signing a new contract with the midlands club.

Villa fans and management will not welcome this fresh speculation over the future of Benteke, who has scored four times in as many games in all competitions this season.

Criticism

Manchester United boss David Moyes has come in for heavy criticism over the way he has handed his clubs transfer business this summer. I am not sure what united fans expected, after the way Moyes conducted his business at Everton.

He never found it easy spending the little money he had to spend at Goodison, so a big money transfer kitty was never going to be splashed around. Moyes has not quite got accustomed to his new surroundings just yet.

A few high-profile signings in the summer would have helped fans have more faith in David and his new regime at Old Trafford. He will learn from his mistakes though and no doubt in January he will try to bring in players to improve his squad.

Partnership

Benteke would be an ideal signing for United, although his arrival would put another question mark against the future of England star Wayne Rooney. If Benteke did sign for United then he would likely be playing alongside United’s outstanding Dutchman Robin van Persie in attack.

Benteke would most likely be played in the number nine role, while Van Persie may drop into the hole behind, a role which he was accustomed to at Arsenal and has no problem with. Moyes is unlikely to play with two out-and–out strikers, simply because it does not seem to be in his mind-set.

Benteke and Van Persie sounds like a very dangerous partnership on paper, whether the two strikers could play as a pair remains to be seen. Benteke would definitely give United something extra in their attacking armoury though.

Scouted

Ironically Moyes had scouted Benteke while he was playing at Genk and the Scot was Everton boss. However, for one reason or another Moyes did not sign the young Belgium international. I would imagine that his fee has probably risen by about £25million since those days.

Priority

A bit like Arsenal signing Mesut Ozil I did not think that United signing another striker would be Moyes priority. A consistent winger or a creative midfielder certainly would not go a miss in a team that obviously needs refreshing from last season.

Mercurial Portuguese winger Nani has just signed a new deal at Old Trafford, but he has been woefully inconsistent for the Red Devils.

When he is on-form he has the ability to win his team games, but off-form and he can be a real liability. He also does not seem like the sort of player that Moyes usually favours.

Excellent

If Manchester united should make a move for Christian Benteke in the January transfer window then I believe he will be an excellent signing. He would be a big loss for Villa, even if they do stand to make a huge profit on the striker.

Benteke is the star man at Villa and I believe he should stay with the Villains at least till next summer. It is a big year for Benteke with a potential place at next year’s World Cup up for grabs. He needs to be playing first team football and at Villa he is guaranteed that.

However, if United did come calling I think the big striker would find a move hard to turn down and he runs the risk of maybe having to compete with Wayne Rooney for a place in the United starting eleven.

Big season

Either way this season is a big one for Christian Benteke. The youngster has hit the ground running in the goal scoring stakes. For now though he has to keep scoring goals for Villa and stay in the Belgium squad and who knows what will happen in the future.

Will Christian Benteke leave Villa in January?