Benteke hands in transfer request

Aston Villa have confirmed that Christian Benteke has handed in a transfer request, the Mirror understands.

Manager Paul Lambert has this week flown with his squad to Germany for the clubs pre-season tour, though the Belgian international has not made the trip.

The 22 year old, whose tally of nineteen goals last season was the highest ever recorded by a Villa player since the inception of the Premier League, was set to be offered double his wages to remain in the West Midlands.

However, he is set to leave after just one season at Villa Park, despite signing a three year contract after arriving from Genk for £8million last August.

London is the striker’s most likely destination, with both Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea interested in providing a platform for him to establish himself ahead of next summer’s World Cup in Brazil, though they will need to meet Villa’s valuation of around £25million.