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Aston Villa are being circled by Premier League vultures preparing swoops for Christian Benteke.

Tottenham, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool have all been alerted by Benteke’s brilliant start to life in England with ­crisis club Villa.

Striker Benteke is one of the signings of the season, having already ­netted 11 goals – ­including a brace against Liverpool at Anfield.

Tottenham have so far shown the strongest interest, but Arsenal, City and Liverpool will also watch him carefully until the end of the season.

Villa would find it hard to keep Benteke if the club is relegated to the Championship and face a fight to retain the 22-year-old even if they stay up.

The news will spark even more worry among Villa fans, who have seen owner Randy Lerner cash in on ­Gareth Barry, James Milner, Ashley Young and Stewart Downing in recent years.

Villa are not in danger of losing Benteke before the winter transfer window closes ­because he has played for two clubs this season and the ­Belgium international is ­determined to try to help Paul Lambert’s men climb away from relegation.

Benteke feels a debt of gratitude to Lambert for signing him from Genk for £7.5million at the end of August, but that will be severely tested at the end of the season.

His value has doubled in just five months in England.

Spurs are still pondering whether to sign a new striker this month and retain a long-term interest in Leandro Damiao.

But the club will assess their options again in the summer, when Emmanuel Adebayor could be allowed to leave.

As a child, Benteke grew up supporting Arsenal and ­manager Arsene Wenger ­admitted watching the player before he joined Villa.

With Darren Bent set to leave at the end of the season, Lambert will be desperate to keep hold of Benteke who signed a four-year contract in the ­summer. But he is watching Watford’s 24-year-old forward Troy Deeney just in case.

Despite Villa’s double cup upset last week by Bradford and Millwall, the club ­continue to insist they remain behind Lambert.

Lerner’s ­loyalty will be tested again, however, if Villa lose Tuesday’s vital relegation clash at home to Newcastle.