VILLA WHEEL AND DEAL

Aston Villa have been one of the most active clubs in the Premier league over the summer transfer window. They have brought in as much as six players into the club, while also extending the contracts of seven players.

This includes the star striker Christian Benteke, who has agreed to withdraw his transfer request and sign a new contract with the club. The Belgian was one of the main reasons for Villa staying up in the Premier league. He scored 19 goals in an amazing season for him personally, which has led to him being linked with several clubs including Chelsea over the last few weeks.

Benteke was on the verge of a £ 25 million bid from Chelsea before he eventually withdrew his transfer request. Lambert has thanked the owner Randy Lerner and the Chief Executive Paul Faulkner by saying that the club could not have made it so much additions to the squad without the backing of these men. Randy Lerner has been very tight with his spending in the last few years, but he has finally unleashed his wallet once again. It has helped Villa offer a new contract to Benteke, which is worth twice the money he was on before.

Lambert is hoping that Benteke will be able to reproduce the achievements of last season.

"The new lads that have come in still need a bit of time to settle in. But that’s why we have done it as early as we did, to give them that feeling of what the British game’s like. These lads are going to give it a right go. It’s just a matter of getting them altogether and getting them playing the way you want them to play. Paul and Randy have been great – they really have, with the Christian thing and the lads we have brought in," said Lambert.

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