Christian Benteke: Five Villa replacements
There's no getting around it, Christian Benteke was one of the best players Aston Villa have had for years.
Replacing the striker, who scored 49 goals in three seasons with the claret and blues, will be no easy task for manager Tim Sherwood.
It is likely the Villa boss already knows who he wants to replace the big Belgian. Here we look at a few possibilities...
1 Diego Rolan
Villa are reported to have made a bid in the region of £12million for the 22-year-old Bordeaux frontman.
Rolan, a Uruguay international, has scored 17 goals in 61 games in Ligue 1 and impressed in the recent Copa America.
Newcastle are understood to have had a bid turned down earlier this summer.
2 Emmanuel Adebayor
Sherwood knows Adebayor well from his time in charge at Spurs and was credited with sparking a brief resurgence in the striker's form.
Undoubtedly talented, the Togo international's career has been marred by off-field controversies and rumours of bust-ups with management.
He would be a gamble, but one Villa may be willing to take on loan.
3 Charlie Austin
Villa new-boy Micah Richards was in no doubt Austin was the man to replace Benteke when quizzed by the press pack earlier this month.
It's easy to see why, after the 26-year-old plundered 18 goals last season at a rate of one every other game.
With QPR wanting £15m, he wouldn't come cheap but after selling Benteke, Villa have the cash.
4 Mattia Destro
The 24-year-old Italian international is rumoured to be on his way out of Roma, with Villa believed to be among several clubs interested in acquiring his services.
Destro struggled badly while on loan at AC Milan last season, finding the net just three times. But a record of 29 goals in 68 games for Roma suggests he knows where the goal is. Villa may be tempted by the £9m price tag.
5 Callum Wilson
Another name to have been linked with Villa, Wilson has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past two seasons.
After hitting 22 goals in League One for Coventry, the striker moved for £3million to Bournemouth, where he scored 23 times as the Cherries were promoted to the Premier League.
The South Coast club, who Villa face on the Premier League's opening day, are unlikely to be willing sellers.
