Aston Villa boss admits he's powerless to prevent star striker from leaving

Posted Sunday, April 19, 2015 by Footballfancast.com

Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood insisted he would not stand in Christian Benteke's way if his leading goalscorer asks to leave this summer.

Since Sherwood replaced Paul Lambert at Villa Park mid-season, Benteke has been in red-hot form, netting eight goals in six games.

The Belgium international still has two years left on his Villa deal and this week said he would address his future with Sherwood in talks at the end of the season.

Sherwood is desperate to keep the in-form striker and would welcome the club rewarding him with an extended deal this summer.

But Sherwood admitted Villa would be better off pocketing the likely £25 million fee they would get for him than being stuck with a player who wants to be elsewhere and who would be able to eventually leave for nothing.

"It (his contract) is certainly something that will have to be addressed," said Sherwood.

"You don't really want players going into the last 18 months of their contract.

"You can't force any player, I've been one myself.

"You might as well take the money because you end up without the money or the player if you don't take it."

Aston Villa face Liverpool in the semi-finals of the FA Cup at Wembley on Sunday.