I can’t hide my love for the transfer market and everything it encompasses. Sure, the rumors are largely that, rumors, procured by one of the major British news outlets like The Guardian, Sky Sports, the Mirror or the least reliable but most creative, the Daily Mail. Point being, few topics within world football drive the banter like transfer talk.
One of the craziest things is that Pro Soccer Talk or any other soccer/football website can perpetuate a transfer rumor without any repercussion whatsoever. But why fabricate when you can evaluate? That’s the most exciting part of any transfer rumor – deciding whether or not the player fits the club and vice versa.
Cue ‘The Transfer Tailor Shop’ – the one place where we set forth the rumor, weigh whether it’s a good fit, and then ask your opinion on where the player should end up. Today we’re looking at everyone’s favorite hulking Premier League striker, Aston Villa front-man Christian Benteke.
On Tuesday night the rumor broke that Villa chairman Randy Lerner was prepared to double Benteke’s basic pay (from £1m to £2m a year) to ensure the Belgian stays at Villa Park. The fear, no doubt inflamed by the striker’s mind-blowing hat-trick in Villa’s 6-1 romp of Sunderland on Monday, is that if the Midlands-based club doesn’t show him some serious love he may leave The Claret and Blue for Tottenham or Arsenal.
Such a move would be devastating to manager Paul Lambert’s desire to return the club to Top 10 status. After having sold off stars Gareth Barry, Ashley Young and James Milner in recent years, Lerner is now poised to do whatever it takes to secure Benteke’s signature. After all, the 22 year old has been in scintillating form this season and with 18 league goals, is the primary reason Villa may avoid the drop.
If Villa were to sell Benteke the club would be left with Andreas Weimann, Darren Bent and Gabby Agbonglahor as its forwards. Weimann (7 goals, 27 matches) and Agbonglahor (7 goals, 25 matches) have enjoyed fine seasons – and may themselves be targets of summer transfer offers – but neither plays the same out-and-out striker role as Benteke. Only Bent covers that. And while the 29 year old England international has enjoyed a few fabulous years, the 2012-13 campaign has hardly been one of them. Overtaken by the Belgian after injury sidelined him in the fall, Bent has barely seen the field since Benteke’s emergence.
Of course, Villa would receive bountiful compensation if they sell Benteke – the figures vary wildly but most assess his value at £20m-£35m – but who’s to say that his replacement produces? After all, even if Villa were to shell out for a top replacement everyone remembers where £50m got Chelsea with Fernando Torres. In other words, losing Benteke would be a crushing blow to Villa, even with a pocket full of money.
But if Arsenal is able to strike a deal for the Villa hit-man, how well would Benteke fit in at the Emirates?
Since selling Robin van Persie to Manchester United, Arsene Wenger’s side has been frothing at the mouth for a world-class striker. In a semi-panic for cover the Gunners purchased Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud. Podolski has seldom been utilized up top and despite a love for the club and desire to play, may be sold in the upcoming transfer window.
Giroud has come into Arsenal and made the role of target-man his own, yet few Goonah’s are rushing to defend the Frenchman’s contributions. Yes, he’s showed spurts of talent but 11 goals in 33 appearances for a team that puts balls on silver platters is not a flattering stat line. It’s foreseeable that another year of Premier League action sees Giroud develop into a top striker but it’s objectively clear that when it comes to talent and production, Benteke is the far better asset.
Benteke’s game is built on speed and power, attributes not typically associated with Arsenal. One gets the sense that after this season’s experiment with Giroud, Wenger may be more likely to seek a more skillful forward who excels in pinpoint passes and link-up play. While the Gunners may pony up £15m-£20m for Benteke they seem more poised to break the bank for a striker like Edinson Cavani or Stevan Jovetic.
Turning to Tottenham, now.
There is perhaps no Premier League club in greater need of a striker than Spurs. Emmanuel Adebayor has dropped multiple levels over the last few seasons and his careless play and ridiculous antics has drawn the ire of the White Hart Lane faithful. He will undoubtedly be sold this summer, likely at a cut rate price.
The Lillywhites other striker, Jermain Defoe, will likely remain in the squad despite yet another disappointing and injury riddled season. When healthy, the England international is a dynamo for the Spurs offense, but seems better suited to a role off the bench.
Thus, there is plenty of room for Benteke in Andre Villas-Boas’ squad. The Belgian would provide a massive target for creative players like Gareth Bale, Gylfi Sigudrsson and Aaron Lennon to run off of and would be the ideal man to bang home service from the outside. Benteke would also nicely supplement the grit Spurs have down the spine with players like Sandro, Jan Vertonghen, Mousa Dembele, Michael Dawson, Steven Caulker, William Gallas and Tom Huddlestone.
Rumors have Spurs lining up a bid to bring in Brazil striker Leandro Damiao but I don’t think that necessarily prevents them from looking to bring in a second front-man. Benteke would be a wonderful fit for Spurs, who could be in the position to spend upwards of £25m to acquire his services.
Where do you think Christian Benteke is best suited to play?
