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Less than two weeks after handing in a written transfer request, Christian Benteke has extended his contract with Aston Villa through the 2016-17 season. It seems that, upon realizing that Tottenham Hotspur would not be forthcoming with a bid that Aston Villa would accept, Benteke decided to solidify his chances of remaining on a team that would give him consistent first team time.
Paul Lambert and Randy Lerner should be praised for their handling of the entire situation, as they held firm to their demands throughout. As we've said so many times, there was no reason for Villa to sell low on the Belgian striker: he was at the club for low wages and had enough incentive to keep him playing wherever he was. By making their demands clear, and not waffling, the duo forced Benteke's hand.
Now we've got to look ahead to the new season. Benteke's extension likely means that there won't be any other significant transfers coming in to Villa for the summer, but that's fine when you've got a front line that consists of options drawn from Benteke, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Andi Weimann, and Nicklas Helenius.
You guys, this could be a really exciting season! Let us know what you think in the comments. I'll have a more in-depth reaction up in a bit.