Christian Benteke tells Aston Villa not to stand in his way if a 'club like Arsenal' come calling

The Belgian international scored 19 Premier League goals in his debut season

Christian Benteke celebrates scoring for Aston Villa against Stoke (GETTY IMAGES)

Christian Benteke has told Aston Villa not to stand in his way should “a club like Arsenal” look to sign him this summer.

The Belgian international, who scored 19 Premier League goals in his debut season after joining from Genk last summer, is rumoured to be a target for a host of teams.

Villa, who only narrowly missed relegation and would arguably have finished the season in the bottom three if it wasn't for Benteke's goals, are desperate to hang onto the 22-year-old. But the player says he "won't necessarily accept" it if they tell him he cannot leave the club.

Quoted by the Sun, Benteke said: "If Aston Villa say I must stay, I won't necessarily accept that. I do not in any way want to feel I didn't get the most out of my career. I try to get everything.

"Of course playing the World Cup in Rio is in my head. But I have no fear of falling out of the team. There is no point in me getting into a tug-of-war with Villa."

Among the clubs rumoured to be interested are Arsenal, and Benteke's name-checking of the north London club will not go unnoticed by Arsene Wenger.

"If the chance comes up for me to join a club like Arsenal, I'm convinced we can reach a compromise where everyone comes out a winner," said Benteke.