Paul Lambert delivers Christian Benteke warning

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has warned star striker Christian Benteke that leaving the club could be detrimental to his development.

The Belgian international has attracted interest from a number of clubs across Europe after finding the net 23 times since his arrival from Standard Liege last summer.

Yesterday, his agent Eris Kismet revealed that his client could be tempted elsewhere, but Lambert believes that Benteke would be better served staying at Villa Park.

"He's only 22 years old and he needs to remember that he's got so much to learn," the Scot told talkSPORT.

"He's only a kid starting out, he's going to have ups and downs like everybody else. Once he's played 300-400 games then you might start to think [he'll move].

"If somebody wants him now then they will want him in a year's time? We've been speaking about extending his contract for the last few weeks but he's still got three years left."

Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund are among the clubs reportedly weighing up transfer bids.