Christian Benteke future: Agent duped into revealing Liverpool and Tottenham target will 'not sign new contract'

The agent of the Aston Villa striker fell for prank call

Christian Benteke (GETTY IMAGES)

Christian Benteke will not sign a new contract at Aston Villa and will do everything "legally possible" to force a transfer, his agent revealed after being duped by a prank phone call.

The Belgium international, who is being targeted by Tottenham and Liverpool, has been strongly linked with moving on this summer.

He has a £32.5m buyout clause, although The Independent understands that Liverpool consider that too high. Tim Sherwood said in the aftermath of the Aston Villa's FA Cup final defeat on Saturday that Benteke would not be permitted to leave for less than that sum, however Liverpool hope that they can persuade Villa to sell him for less. It is not clear if Tottenham would be willing to meet such a price tag.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa are keen to tie Benteke to a new contract.

However the player's agent, Kismet Eris, revealed that his client would not be extending his stay at Villa Park. He did so after Aston Villa fan Ty Bracey, who was posing as a Premier League manager, gave Eris a call.

"There is one thing for sure, he will not sign a new contract. I am waiting on a phone call from Tom Fox, I have to meet him," Eris is heard saying in the clip posted on Facebook.

"One thing for sure is that Christian will do whatever is possible legally, by insisting if he has to, to leave Aston Villa.

"That is not because he is not happy at all, it’s because just he wants to play for a higher team.

"Whatever happens he will not sign a new contract, but I can only talk about a new contract when it is proposed. As for now, there is nothing."