Charlie Austin is expected to leave QPR after the club's relegation

Aston Villa have started planning for life without Christian Benteke as they face up to his summer departure.

And Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor and Queens Park Rangers forward Charlie Austin are two prominent names on the club's list of replacements for the Belgian.

Benteke is a target for a host of Premier League sides - Chelsea and Liverpool among them.

Charlie Austin (right) is expected to leave QPR after the club's relegation back to the Championship

Emmanuel Adebayor's £100,000-per-week wages could prove a stumbling block to leaving Tottenham

Christian Benteke (centre, scoring against Southampton) is a target for a number of Premier League clubs

Villa would like to retain the striker, but know they face an uphill struggle keeping the centre-forward in the Midlands for another season.

And Tim Sherwood has started devising a list of possible replacements ahead of Benteke's expected departure.

Sherwood has an excellent relationship with Adebayor, having worked with the Togolese at Tottenham.

Tim Sherwood (right) worked with Adebayor during his spell in charge of Tottenham last season

Adebayor can leave Spurs this summer, but his £100,000-per-week wages will prove a major stumbling block towards a move to Villa.

Spurs, however, are open to paying a percentage of Adebayor's wages next season to ensure he leaves.

A deal for Austin would be much easier to broker for Villa.