Spurs dangle Adebayor bait in bid to land Aston Villa hotshot

With much scrutiny surrounding potential outgoing transfers from Tottenham Hotspur this summer, the club’s mooted incoming activity has been somewhat understated thus far.

But that could be about to change, as Spurs aim to tie up a deal for Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke, who enjoyed a sparkling debut campaign in England.

Tottenham chief Andre Villas-Boas is desperate to bolster his striking options, and sees the Belgian international, 22, as the perfect addition on the back of his 19-goal maiden Premier League season.

Indeed, so impressive was the powerhouse since his £8m arrival at Villa Park only last summer, his market value has trebled in that time, forcing Spurs to consider including a makeweight in any potential deal.

Villans chief Paul Lambert was initially hopeful of landing Jermain Defoe in part-exchange, but will instead be offered Emmanuel Adebayor on top of a £20m initial fee for his prize asset.

And such a deal will come under serious consideration from the Scot, who despite a grave reluctance to see Benteke leave, knows he must sell players in order to generate transfer funds.

Lambert will rightly give little credence to the notion recently bandied about on social media that Adebayor has become a liability, despite a below-par campaign last term, and should welcome the opportunity to land a player of the 29-year-old’s undoubted class.

Meanwhile, Benteke’s desire to play Champions League football will see him consider moving in the other direction, even if he cannot perform in Europe’s elite competition at White Hart Lane next term.

Looking like appealing prospects for a tilt at next year’s Europa League, a competition they are 12/1 favourites to win, a leading Tottenham aim next term must be the achievement of Champions League qualification.

And if they can hold on to their own talismanic squad members, namely Gareth Bale, additions the calibre of Benteke may force Spurs’ 5/4 price for a top-four finish to be trimmed.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.