Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood feels Liverpool target Christian Benteke should not move clubs before next summer’s European Championship.
The Belgian striker, who struggled with injuries and form in the first half of the campaign, has been in super form lately and has rediscovered his touch at Villa Park under the tutelage of Sherwood.
He has been one of the form strikers of the Premier League in the second half of the season and has scored eleven goals for Villa since March this year.
Brendan Rodgers is believed to be keen to take the Belgian to Anfield in the summer to solve Liverpool’s striking woes ahead of the new season.
However, Villa are reluctant to sell and Sherwood stressed that Benteke’s suitors need to meet the buyout clause in his contract to snare him away from the club at the end of the term.
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"Benteke's made no indication that he wants to leave", the Villa boss told the BBC.
"Someone's got to meet that buy-out clause and if they don't it won't be considered because we don't want to lose him."
The Villa boss feels being at Aston Villa hasn’t yet harmed his international career with Belgium and feels the forward should not look to change his surroundings before next summer’s European Championship.
"I don't think he should be moving clubs before a European Championship.
"By playing for Aston Villa it hasn't hindered him being the first choice at Belgium, up to now.”
Italian giants Roma are also believed to be on the Villa striker’s trail and are keenly following developments at the Midlands club.
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