’Let us have him

PACKING A PUNCH ... Benteke is a big noise now

CHRISTIAN BENTEKE is being targeted by Atletico Madrid as a £17.5million replacement for Radamel Falcao.

The Belgian striker, 22, has been offered a bumper new deal at Aston Villa after scoring 23 goals in an impressive debut season.

But Spaniards Atletico — who have just sold Colombian ace Falcao to Monaco for £50m — are pinning their hopes on Benteke’s desire to play in La Liga and the Champions League.

On Friday SunSport revealed Benteke had put Europe’s big guns on alert after warning Villa they could not make him stay for the remaining three years of his deal.

Benteke said: “If Aston Villa say I must stay, I won’t necessarily accept that. I do not want to feel I didn’t get the most out of my career.

“There’s no point getting into a tug-of-war with Villa. If the chance comes for me to join a club like Arsenal, I’m convinced we can reach a compromise where everyone comes out a winner.”

Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs are also interested in the former Genk hitman, who cost Villa £7m in August.

Villa boss Paul Lambert said: “He’s only 22, he’s got to remember that.

“He’s a kid starting out. Once you’ve played 500 games, then you might think ‘You’re right, you deserve it’.

“I don’t mind agents but sometimes you’ve got to have a reality check.”

Atletico are also considering bids for Liverpool ace Luis Suarez and Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez.

But a Madrid insider said: “Coach Diego Simeone wants someone very special to replace Falcao — and Benteke is the one.”