Report: Aston Villa eye Emmanuel Adebayor as Christian Benteke replacement

Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood has reportedly identified Tottenham Hotspur striker Emmanuel Adebayor as the man to replace Liverpool target Christian Benteke.

Speculation is rife that the Reds have stepped up their pursuit of the 24-year-old by agreeing to activate his £32.5m buyout clause at Villa Park.

The Belgium international found himself in red-hot form toward the end of the 2014-15 season, netting 12 times in his last 14 outings.

However, Sherwood has targeted the out-of-favour Togolese - whom he worked with at Spurs - as the man to fill the goalscoring void if he joins Liverpool, according to the Birmingham Mail.

Like Benteke, Sherwood helped bring the best out of Adebayor at White Hart Lane, but the 31-year-old struggled for form when the manager was sacked last summer as he netted just two league goals in the 2014-15 campaign.

The report goes on to state that the former Arsenal hitman - whose Tottenham contract expires next summer - could be available for around £5m.