Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood has advised in-form striker Christian Benteke to stay at the club for another year and then have his pick of any club - including Real Madrid.
The Belgium hitman has looked a player reborn in recent months after netting 12 times in as many games to fire the Villans to Premier League safety last season.
Consequently, the 24-year-old has courted interest from elsewhere as Liverpool reportedly weigh up a big-money bid this summer.
With Euro 2016 just over 12 months away, Sherwood warns that now is not the time for Benteke to jeopardise his hopes of making the squad by leaving Villa Park.
"There's a buyout clause in his contract so it will be impossible for us to stop him if he wants to go," Sherwood told reporters. "Someone's got to meet that buyout clause and if they don't it won't be considered because we don't want to lose him.
"We're building up to a European Championship, which is a huge stage for Christian, and a tournament where you feel that Belgium will be one of the favourites to win it. By playing for Aston Villa it hasn't hindered him being the first choice for Belgium up to now.
"If he were to stay here and score at the ratio that he has since I took over, and ends up with 20 or 30 goals next season and then has a good Euros, he is probably playing for Real Madrid [in 2016]. Christian could go to the best club in the world if he scores 30 goals next season. He could be that good."
Benteke's contract expires in 2017.
Shane Callaghan
