Tuesday 2 June 2015 12:43, UK
Christian Benteke has admitted to Sky Sports News HQ that his future at Aston Villa is unclear after his agent revealed the striker wants a move to a Champions League club.
Benteke's representative Eric Kismet stated on Monday the player wanted to play for a club in Europe's premier competition with Villa reluctant to sell him for anything less than his £32.5m buy-out fee.
Kismet is hoping to meet with Villa chief executive Tom Fox and first-team manager Tim Sherwood in the next nine days to discuss what will happen with the Belgium international this summer.
Sherwood wants to get the striker tied down to a new deal at Villa Park as part of his summer overhaul of the squad.
Benteke, currently with the Belgium international squad in Bordeaux preparing for the European Championships qualifier against Wales, would not be drawn on questions about his future but tellingly stated that his agent "knows what I want".
I'm motivated about working hard and being better than before
"It's about him, he knows what I want and I’ll let him do the job," Benteke told Sky Sports News HQ.
"I don’t know, I don’t think about Aston Villa now, I did my season with Villa and now I am focused with the national team.
"It's important to play. If you want to be in first 11 you have to play in your club."
Benteke has scored a total of 49 goals in 101 appearances for the club, notching 12 goals this season after overcoming an Achilles injury, and was the subject of repeated transfer speculation last summer.
On his stunning form since his recovery, Benteke added: "I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I had some hard times with my injury but I knew my time would come and I would work hard for it.
"I think I can be better in every situation – my left foot, right foot, heading. I'm still young and I'm motivated about working hard and being better than before."
The 24-year-old has been linked with Manchester United and Arsenal - two clubs who would meet Kismet's qualifying criteria of being in the Champions League - and Liverpool.
When asked if there were lots of clubs interesting in signing Benteke, he said: "It's good for confidence and I'm very pleased about that but I'm just focused on the national side."
