Earlier this summer, I enraged commentors by asking the question: Is Christian Benteke really worth £40m? Whilst I understand why Aston Villa fans may be defensive about their top striking talent (and one of the Premier League’s stand-out players last season), I would caution against going ‘all-in’ on a player with only one good season at the top level behind him.
We’ve seen players have one remarkable season before and then fizzle out. There’s no telling whether or not Benteke is in it for the long haul or not. What will happen if he runs into a bad patch of form. Will he be able to recover?
£40m is a lot of money. Cesc Fabregas left Arsenal for around £34m. Luka Modric left for a similar price. There is talk of Luis Suarez being valued at £40m. What’s needed, is a bit of perspective.
That’s not to say I don’t rate Benteke. What he did in his debut Premier League season was nothing short of remarkable. He has well and truly announced himself. Now all he needs to do, is prove he’s no flash in the pan.
The Mirror recently ran an article suggesting that Aston Villa currently value Benteke at £25m. I’d argue that this is a little closer to the big Belgium’s market value.
This price-tag may tempt the likes of Tottenham, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal into making a move for the 22-year-old. All these clubs need a goal-scoring centre-forward and Benteke certainly checks that box.
Chelsea will probably be chasing bigger fish this summer and Liverpool will likely wait until the Luis Suarez situation is resolved before signing another forward.
The Gunners are hot on the trail of Gonzalo Higuain, but should also consider looking at Benteke as another option (or as an additional option). He’s similar in style to Olivier Giroud, but he’s about twice as effective.
But it’s Tottenham who would be the best fit for Benteke. Whilst Spurs can’t offer him Champions League football next season, with Benteke on board, it may only be a matter of time before they’re competing against the European elite again. The Belgium forward would represent a significant step-up on the likes of Jermaine Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor and would help to ease the pressure on Gareth Bale.
£25m is a lot of money, but I’d argue it would be a good investment for Spurs. It could be just what the club needs to keep moving forward.
What’s your take? How much is Christian Benteke worth? Is Spurs a good fit for the Belgium?
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Benteke to Spurs? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mpqiq-FHDV4
Spot on Mike…totally spot on!!!! Only way it will happen is if they give us all the money they are about to get from the Bale sale…. And when this happens they will not be getting champions league any time soon.
Remember there are 3 welsh teams in the premiership Cardiff, Swansea and Gareth Bale but one is leaving
Your view on his worth would be totally different if the shoe was on the other foot and he was currently a Spurs player FFS. You’d value him at £40 mil. Bale is good but not £80 mil. If you were buying him, you’d be saying 50-60. Perspective and don’t believe the hype….
^^^ LOL says it all, its the media who have plucked up this 25 million price tag Villa have already stated he is not for sale and Paul Lambert himself stated it would take silly money to sign him in excess of 35 million. People can winge and moan that he’s not worth it but its a case of put up or shut up, players on a three year contract and needs to play well for next years world cup. I fancy him to stop at Villa for another season and then to do well in the world cup. He will be worth a hell of alot more to Villa next season, why sell him now.
Yellow journalism at best, this just proves that our (VILLA) scouting system is vastly better than Spurs , if they was, they’d have Benteke on their books and why would he side step? pfffft!!!!
‘side step’????
What have you been smoking bilbo?
Sidestep are you for real if he was sidestepping he would be moving to the likes of palace or Newcastle you halfwit.
How about he’s a good fit for Aston villa, and he’s not going to spurs this season.
lol yes he is
When Bale leaves, what’s the attraction with Spurs? A season in the Europa League? Face it, Spurs don’t have the money or the cahones to sign Benteke. They’re just not that big a draw considering they’re not even the biggest team in North London. In a season when Benteke needs to play regularly to secure his Belgium place for the World Cup, being a rotation forward for AVB and getting bored with second rate Europa football is just not a great plan.
I think these Villa fans are deluded! Why would he want to leave? Because he is currently at a club that nearly got relegated last season, and will probably go down next season. Villa are absolute shite! I find it funny how fans think he won’t move, he’d be better at spurs, but again it would be easy to prise him away for a lot less the £25m quoted. It looks like he wants to leave the brummy wasteland and come play some more attractive football!
No way should he sign for us, 1 season does not say he could do it again. AVB has better players to choose from
boys boys, if he wants to leave he will do, 18mil tops. coys