Christian Benteke is preparing to leave Aston Villa at the end of the season - with Arsenal favourites to land him, according to the Daily Star.
The Belgian striker has been a revelation since arriving from Genk last summer in a £7million deal, scoring 14 goals in 27 appearances for the Midlands club.
However, he is understood to have revealed to friends that he will leave the club in the summer - even if Paul Lambert's young side avoid relegation.
His decision will spark a £16million scramble for his signature with Chelsea and Manchester City also interested in the 22-year-old.
However, Starsport claim that Arsenal are leading the chase with Benteke a known admirer of the Gunners.
The powerful forward's teammate Karim El Ahmadi reckons the striker is worth £40million.
Premier League clubs could also face competition from abroad with Spanish side Atletico Madrid also monitoring events should Radamel Falcao leave.
Christian Benteke
I can't see us signing him.
Me neither.
I reckon this guys pretty good but we've got Giroud, we need something different and more importantly we need a top level layer.
Fancy Spurs or Chelsea will get him.
He's raw. Adebayorish
I like him but what does he do that Giroud doesn't? We need someone a level above this.
Massive prospect. Very clever and technically gifted. Reminds me of Eto'o in that sense but with more physical presence.
Apparently he's a massive Arsenal fan too.
qs! wrote:I like him but what does he do that Giroud doesn't? We need someone a level above this.
Well he's quite faster and right footed player with better finishing and just 22 years and has scored more goals for villa than Giroud has despite being playing for a relegation outfit.
If we can't get Lewandowski or Jovetic we should get this guy.
Gunner89 wrote:Well he's quite faster and right footed player with better finishing and just 22 years and has scored more goals for villa than Giroud has despite being playing for a relegation outfit.
I didn't realise Benteke was better than Henry and Messi. He's scored more goals for villa than either of them have.
He is slightly better than Giroud but we need someone of much higher level.
I don't think he's better than giroud.
Benteke is so rash
Looked poor against West Ham.
Mello wrote:Gunner89 wrote:Well he's quite faster and right footed player with better finishing and just 22 years and has scored more goals for villa than Giroud has despite being playing for a relegation outfit.
I didn't realise Benteke was better than Henry and Messi. He's scored more goals for villa than either of them have.
Grammar is important.
He's a big lad I like that.
qs! wrote:I like him but what does he do that Giroud doesn't?
And the correct answer was, score goals, he scores goals, lots and lots of goals.
He has 18 league goals so far this season. He's only 22. He's already stated that his dream is to play for Arsenal. We need to sign this guy.
Yeah I'm coming around to the idea of Benteke, remarkable the number of goals he's produced, he's unbelievably strong too, uses his physicality in a way Giroud does not
qs! wrote:qs! wrote:I like him but what does he do that Giroud doesn't?
And the correct answer was, score goals, he scores goals, lots and lots of goals.
He has 18 league goals so far this season. He's only 22. He's already stated that his dream is to play for Arsenal. We need to sign this guy.
So when he had 14 in February he wasn't good enough?
Anyway you are right. Sign him up.
He would be a great alternative to Lewandowski for the number 9 role. I would play Jovetic behind him.
He'll end up at spurs