Christian Benteke

[TrentVilla]

Nah it was Martinez to Liverpool and that he wouldn't go.

Turned out to be spot on.

 

Well you should know and wow they must really have been ITK.

 

The club should come out and say 1 of 2 things as I posted the other day.

Saying nothing leaves it wide open for the media and interested clubs.

 

See my previous post.

[thetrees]

The only statement that the club need to make is to Benteke's agent, which possibly may have already happened.

'Here are improved contract terms in recognition of his progress last season. As far as we are concerned, he is not for sale, and there are no circumstances under which we will transfer list him. If you want him to leave, then the onus is upon you to find a club prepared to pay £35m cash. If you are unable to do that, then we suggest that you advise your client to sign for the improved terms and look forward to the coming season.'

[TRO]

Speculation will always run riot and there are the mischief makers that just want some deluded fun.

If a sizeable offer comes in my guess he will go and we will attempt to replace him.

From his point of view I think it is at least one season too early...but money talks, sometimes it talks bollocks, because players need to develop. He will either be sensible and see this or gorge himself on his own one season glory, that could very easily backfire.

I love the player and with the right patience and guidance, could be great.

It's his call, if he wants to stay with us (who wants an unhappy player)fine, if he wants out we must max out his transfer fee and only agree to the highest bidder, not his choice of club.

Until we are SURE of the true stance...it's all hot air.

Ps if gabby who is die in the wool villa had messi's ability.... Fleet st would still have him linked with every club in Europe with a 5mill transfer fee.... They would do anything and everything to undermine us....**** em.

[CI]

We also have no idea if he has release clauses in his contract.

If his agent is any good he will have built some in.

[thetrees]

We also have no idea if he has release clauses in his contract.

If his agent is any good he will have built some in.

Given the agitation in the press, I suggest that if there were a release clause, then it would have been made public by now.

[Nigel]

 

We also have no idea if he has release clauses in his contract.

If his agent is any good he will have built some in.

Given the agitation in the press, I suggest that if there were a release clause, then it would have been made public by now.

 

The press would not have been given a chance, his agent would have shouted it from the rooftops at Christmas!

[PaulC]

The club should come out and say 1 of 2 things as I posted the other day.

Saying nothing leaves it wide open for the media and interested clubs.

 

Sorry I don't see the point. It will be meaningless. The only thing that matters is if and when he signs a new contract.

[CI]

& by doing nothing ? A story every day or so about where he's going.

Can't see how that will help him or us.

[Nigel]

Seriously what can the club say?

[Toela65]

The only club who could get near Villa's asking fee for Benteke is Liverpool. They will have at least £50-70m to spend this Summer from Suarez, Carroll, Skrtel, Coates, and possibly Reina, plus the usual £20m from FSG.

 

Downing/his Agent have said that Benteke is open to a move in England (don't know about abroad) to Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool, preferably Arsenal, but Spurs aren't interested as they have other targets according to their best so called ITKs, and Arsenal with their board won't go up to the £20m+ Villa are quoting clubs.

 

This is from the Downing camp via a close mutual friend. He was the one who told exactly what was happening, step by step, with the Downing move to LFC and got every bit right, down to an article Downing's camp had planted in a Newspaper the day before it appeared in print. Agent's talk to other Agent's. A lot. Thats how most Clubs find out if prospective targets are interested in their club or not.

 

Right now, because of the financial side, I'd say, (if they even want him and I don't know if they do, he's certainly not the top target though-thats Muriel at Udinese) if someone held a gun to my head, that Liverpool have the best chance purely because their the only Club I can see agreeing to pay at least £20m for him, but I just don't think theirs genuine interest from LFC. Benteke is great but he doesn't fit Rodger's much heralded system and philosophy (look at how he treated Carroll who physique wise is a similar build to Benteke. Rodger's like's fast, technical, midgets like Coutinho). Aspas has already also been bought with Munian/Muriel being the two other main Striking targets as of this minute.

 

I think he'd be interested in LFC but it could be a hard sell depending on Competition. it all depends how he looks at it. LFC could put a convincing argument together stating the corner being turned under Rodger's, a brand new scouting dept robbed from the then Prem Champs who have impressed already with Sturridge/Coutinho for combined £20m & plenty of cash to reinforce with. Top 4 calibre form since turn of year, better win ratio and stats when Suarez doesn't play, compared to when he does. But the opposite argument could also be put forward. Losing their best player again, coming 7th never looks good and outside top 4 four seasons running now. Jury still out on BR & whether he'll be a success. If Reina goes there could basically be a whole new Defence next season and that could cost lots of points bedding in. A strong argument can be made either way based on the argument you're trying to prove.

 

It'll come down to which clubs can make the best sales pitch. If Arsenal and Spurs are indeed interested and are willing to put up the fee (which I don't think they will be) he'll end up there. If they won't then the only other threat in England is Liverpool. Can't see him moving abroad again, twice in 2 seasons. Based on what he's said I can't see him staying at Villa I'm afraid. i think he would take any step up that was available and then look to keep moving up the ladder.

Edited June 3, 2013 by Toela65

[brommy]

& by doing nothing ? A story every day or so about where he's going.

Can't see how that will help him or us.

You do realise statements make little to no difference?

[StefanAVFC]

Liverpool fan in bigging up Liverpool shocker.

[CI]

Seriously what can the club say?

1- not for sale

2- offers above £Xm

[PaulC]

& by doing nothing ? A story every day or so about where he's going.

Can't see how that will help him or us.

I think the stories will still come out even we release a statement.

[Robbie09]

The only club who could get near Villa's asking fee for Benteke is Liverpool. They will have at least £50-70m to spend this Summer from Suarez, Carroll, Skrtel, Coates, and possibly Reina, plus the usual £20m from FSG.

 

Downing/his Agent have said that Benteke is open to a move in England (don't know about abroad) to Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool, preferably Arsenal, but Spurs aren't interested as they have other targets according to their best so called ITKs, and Arsenal with their board won't go up to the £20m+ Villa are quoting clubs.

 

This is from the Downing camp via a close mutual friend. He was the one who told exactly what was happening, step by step, with the Downing move to LFC and got every bit right, down to an article Downing's camp had planted in a Newspaper the day before it appeared in print. Agent's talk to other Agent's. A lot. Thats how most Clubs find out if prospective targets are interested in their club or not.

 

Right now, because of the financial side, I'd say, (if they even want him and I don't know if they do, he's certainly not the top target though-thats Muriel at Udinese) if someone held a gun to my head, that Liverpool have the best chance purely because their the only Club I can see agreeing to pay at least £20m for him, but I just don't think theirs genuine interest from LFC. Benteke is great but he doesn't fit Rodger's much heralded system and philosophy (look at how he treated Carroll who physique wise is a similar build to Benteke. Rodger's like's fast, technical, midgets like Coutinho). Aspas has already also been bought with Munian/Muriel being the two other main Striking targets as of this minute.

 

I think he'd be interested in LFC but it could be a hard sell depending on Competition. it all depends how he looks at it. LFC could put a convincing argument together stating the corner being turned under Rodger's, a brand new scouting dept robbed from the then Prem Champs who have impressed already with Sturridge/Coutinho for combined £20m & plenty of cash to reinforce with. Top 4 calibre form since turn of year, better win ratio and stats when Suarez doesn't play, compared to when he does. But the opposite argument could also be put forward. Losing their best player again, coming 7th never looks good and outside top 4 four seasons running now. Jury still out on BR & whether he'll be a success. If Reina goes there could basically be a whole new Defence next season and that could cost lots of points bedding in. A strong argument can be made either way based on the argument you're trying to prove.

 

It'll come down to which clubs can make the best sales pitch. If Arsenal and Spurs are indeed interested and are willing to put up the fee (which I don't think they will be) he'll end up there. If they won't then the only other threat in England is Liverpool. Can't see him moving abroad again, twice in 2 seasons. Based on what he's said I can't see him staying at Villa I'm afraid. i think he would take any step up that was available and then look to keep moving up the ladder.

 

I wouldn't believe a word of anything Downing has to say. 

[thetrees]

The only club who could get near Villa's asking fee for Benteke is Liverpool. They will have at least £50-70m to spend this Summer from Suarez, Carroll, Skrtel, Coates, and possibly Reina, plus the usual £20m from FSG.

 

Downing/his Agent have said that Benteke is open to a move in England (don't know about abroad) to Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool, preferably Arsenal, but Spurs aren't interested as they have other targets according to their best so called ITKs, and Arsenal with their board won't go up to the £20m+ Villa are quoting clubs.

 

My understanding was that Tottenham were very interested midway during the January window. They were told that he was homesick, so the only move would be in that direction.

But 5 months is a long time in the life of a 22 year-old footballer on the rise!

[PaulMcGrath_5]

The only club who could get near Villa's asking fee for Benteke is Liverpool. They will have at least £50-70m to spend this Summer from Suarez, Carroll, Skrtel, Coates, and possibly Reina, plus the usual £20m from FSG.

Downing/his Agent have said that Benteke is open to a move in England (don't know about abroad) to Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool, preferably Arsenal, but Spurs aren't interested as they have other targets according to their best so called ITKs, and Arsenal with their board won't go up to the £20m+ Villa are quoting clubs.

This is from the Downing camp via a close mutual friend. He was the one who told exactly what was happening, step by step, with the Downing move to LFC and got every bit right, down to an article Downing's camp had planted in a Newspaper the day before it appeared in print. Agent's talk to other Agent's. A lot. Thats how most Clubs find out if prospective targets are interested in their club or not.

Right now, because of the financial side, I'd say, (if they even want him and I don't know if they do, he's certainly not the top target though-thats Muriel at Udinese) if someone held a gun to my head, that Liverpool have the best chance purely because their the only Club I can see agreeing to pay at least £20m for him, but I just don't think theirs genuine interest from LFC. Benteke is great but he doesn't fit Rodger's much heralded system and philosophy (look at how he treated Carroll who physique wise is a similar build to Benteke. Rodger's like's fast, technical, midgets like Coutinho). Aspas has already also been bought with Munian/Muriel being the two other main Striking targets as of this minute.

I think he'd be interested in LFC but it could be a hard sell depending on Competition. it all depends how he looks at it. LFC could put a convincing argument together stating the corner being turned under Rodger's, a brand new scouting dept robbed from the then Prem Champs who have impressed already with Sturridge/Coutinho for combined £20m & plenty of cash to reinforce with. Top 4 calibre form since turn of year, better win ratio and stats when Suarez doesn't play, compared to when he does. But the opposite argument could also be put forward. Losing their best player again, coming 7th never looks good and outside top 4 four seasons running now. Jury still out on BR & whether he'll be a success. If Reina goes there could basically be a whole new Defence next season and that could cost lots of points bedding in. A strong argument can be made either way based on the argument you're trying to prove.

It'll come down to which clubs can make the best sales pitch. If Arsenal and Spurs are indeed interested and are willing to put up the fee (which I don't think they will be) he'll end up there. If they won't then the only other threat in England is Liverpool. Can't see him moving abroad again, twice in 2 seasons. Based on what he's said I can't see him staying at Villa I'm afraid. i think he would take any step up that was available and then look to keep moving up the ladder.

That's a whole load of boring information in one post.

[Nigel]

 

Seriously what can the club say?

1- not for sale

2- offers above £Xm

 

Right...and that will placate who exactly?

 

It wont mean a thing unless there is movement from the players camp.  Further more it makes the club look naive if Benteke then pulls a wobbler and we are forced to sell.

[Toela65]

Nah.. can't see the Liverpool thing tbh... Not even in the Champs League...

 

Liverpool 2010-2020 = Villa 1990 - 2000 in my opinion... Living on past glories.

 

In that respect you could say in some bizarre kind of way we are ahead of them as we have already hopefully done our transition into a new streamlined club. Now we just need to build a good team & repair the clubs severely damaged reputation thus filling out Villa Park again & hopefully expansion, European football & trophies as a result.... a few years off yet mind!...

 

I see Liverpool as not having quite realized yet that they need to follow a similar path. They still think they are a bully when in fact nobody else is scared of them anymore...

 

I can see CB going to London IF he moves & even that may not be until next season... May depend on his family though..he did say he would speak with his family about it so i guess it depends if they are settled in the area or not?

 

Liverpool have already done what you are saying Villa have done. I have no idea how you can say Villa "are ahead of Liverpool" in any shape, way or form other than pure tribalism.

 

All the overpaid dross is gone. Wages are down to 60% of turnover come next release of accounts. Johnson is the only player in the first team left who is on a contract bigger than he deserves/earns. Dalglish and Comolli who were the the big problem financially and signing players and getting it wrong are gone, a brand new scouting team has been robbed from Man City and there is a Committee approach to signings now with no one person having ultimate say over who is bought.

 

The building of a more financially effcient team has started with two class buys in Sturridge and Coutinho who cost less than Downing combined. Liverpool will get permission to finally start expansion of Anfield by end of Summer. All the debt we have is owed to our owners (£80m when it used to be £240m) who have promised they will not take money from the club to be repaid they hope to get it back when they sell the club.

 

Still a lonngggg way to go for Liverpool, but lets get our facts right, everything off the field at Liverpool is better than its been for a long, long time. The challenge now is replicating the superb work that's been done by the Executives, on the football side of things, which is going to be so hard when Arsenal, City, Utd, Chelsea all have bigger revenues to spend and Spurs have built up a great side that they seem to manage to keep going strong fighting for 4th, even when losing their best players like Modric and VDV. 

 

There's been a big gamble made on 1) Brendan Rodger's being the right man for the job and 2) Trying to copy a Spurs-like strategy of investing in top scouts to find affordable, potential world class players, before the bigger clubs get on to them, and having these players fulfil their potential with you, before being swiped by the bigger clubs. Signings such as Alonso, Mascherano, Suarez and now potentially Coutinho. If this gamble works then it will pay of massivley on and off the field, if it does not, then Liverpool may end up stuck outside the top 4 for a generation.

[Con]

A new generation of football players are growing up with Liverpool a mid-table side.

 

Man Utd, Chelsea, Man City, Arsenal have all bought the top 4 slots, and have the Champions League cash to stay there.

 

Tottenham look the best of the rest.

 

Benteke is not going to bother moving to what he perceives to be another small club. Unless he can get into the top 4 he'll go abroad.

 

If he doesn't go abroad this year then he'll stay with us for another year. I'm confident about that.