Aston Villa Enquire About Availability of Former Villa Park Favourite Christian Benteke

26 January 2020 17:45

A season-ending injury​ to ​Aston Villa's record signing Wesley, has seen the struggling Villans become hell-bent on bringing new attacking talent to Villa Park this January. 


The club has attempted to remedy their attacking crisis by securing the services of Genk's Tanzanian forward Mbwana Ally Samatta this January. The player was snapped up by the Birmingham club on a long-term deal following four years at the Belgian side.


However, there could be further additions made over the next week as the club are evaluating the possibility of signing former fan favourite ​Christian Benteke. First reported by ​DH in Belgium, Benteke has been made available by ​Crystal Palace following the signing of Cenk Tosun.

FBL-ENG-PR-CRYSTAL PALACE-BRIGHTON

Even though Samatta has signed at Villa Park, the club remains "open" to signing their former player


Villa's current wage bill, and wish to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations, means that the move to sign the Belgian would have to be a loan move rather than a permanent one. Benteke's wages of £150K a week have been reported to be particularly off-putting for the Villa transfer team. 


Benteke's team is open to the move with an aim to return to the form that saw him become one of the most feared forwards in England. Since his first season at Palace, Benteke become less feared and more of a punchlines for fans due to uninspiring spells at ​Liverpool and Crystal Palace.

Christian Benteke

Attacking reinforcements could be absolutely essential this season as Villa attempt to ensure their Premier League status. Villa currently finds themselves in 16th, two points outside of the relegation zone.

Source: 90min