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Aston Villa will reluctantly sell Christian Benteke to Spurs - but are gearing up for a price war with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.

Villa's Belgium striker Benteke has handed in a transfer request and has now been given extended summer leave.

We understand the 22-year-old, and his agent, had a meeting with Villa manager Paul Lambert on Saturday at the club's training ground following Benteke's return from holiday.

In frank discussions, the player asked to leave.

Lambert and the club's hierarchy are now prepared to let the striker leave during pre-season, but want £25m-rated Benteke - who has three years left on his contract - to depart on their terms.

Villa owner Randy Lerner has experience of driving a hard bargain over the exits of stars Gareth Barry and Stewart Downing previously.

Canny Tottenham chief Levy, on the other hand, hopes to drive the price down for a player who was the Villans' 23-goal top scorer as a Premier League rookie last season.

Levy is prepared to wait until nearer the end of the window in the hope of getting his man on more favourable terms.

Benteke, who has now returned home to Liege in Belgium, has his heart set on a switch to White Hart Lane.

Spurs have been making overtures towards his camp since early this year as he enjoyed a stunning debut season in the top-flight.

Benteke favours a move to Spurs as he is more likely to get regular first-team football there than at Chelsea, who are also being linked with him.

Sources close to the striker - bought from Belgian side Genk on deadline-day last August for £8m - claim he was originally willing to stay at Villa Park and sign a new contract.

(Image: PA)

Villa were prepared to double - possibly triple - Benteke's current £20,000-a-week salary, but Tottenham's financial package is believed to be significantly better than that.

Spurs are also promising to help safeguard his international place with Belgium in what will be a World Cup year.

Villa play their opening pre-season game in Germany on Wednesday, against SV Rodinghausen, after leaving Benteke behind.

The Midlands giants sold James Milner to Manchester City in August 2010 in a £26m package and would want at least the same for Benteke.

Sources at Villa Park believe Benteke has been poorly advised by his agent, Kismet Eris, and would be better off staying at least one more season.

But Lambert has drawn up a short-list of possible replacements.