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Paul Lambert has revealed that Christian Benteke and Romelu Lukaku could have been terrorising defences together for Villa rather than playing against each other this weekend.

Lambert has admitted for the first time that he enquired about taking Lukaku on loan from Chelsea last summer before the claret and blues signed Benteke on a permanent deal.

Lukaku’s wages put Villa off and the striker joined Albion on a season-long deal instead.

He has since linked up with Everton on a similar basis and will be up against Benteke at Villa Park tomorrow.

Lambert would love to have paired the Belgian battering rams together, saying the compatriots boast different qualities, but the same goalscoring prowess.

“I remember when I first came in here I spoke to Chelsea about Lukaku before we saw Christian,” revealed Lambert.

“I knew about him and this club needed somebody to be that type of player.

“Obviously we couldn’t afford that at that time and Christian came in. The rest is history, as they say. They’re totally different players but the two of them are a threat.”

Asked if Lukaku would have been instead of Benteke, Lambert replied: “No, I would have tried to get Christian as well, probably. What would they have been like together?”

“You really don’t know, but they’re two powerful lads.”