Aston Villa have made enquiries about Crystal Palace forward Christian Benteke.

Dean Smith’s side are looking to bolster their goal-shy front line with summer signing Wesley ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee-ligament injury.

According to a report in The Guardian, Villa have made contact with Palace over a potential loan move but the Eagles are only interested in a permanent deal for the forward who only recently signed a contract extension at Selhurst Park.

Benteke remains a firm favourite at the midlands outfit after netting 49 times in 101 games during his three-year spell from 2012, but the Belgian has failed to get anywhere near that goalscoring record both at Liverpool or at Palace, who signed the striker for £28million in 2016.

Disrupted by injury the 29-year-old has failed to hit the back of the net in 15 appearances this season, the majority of which from the bench with Jordan Ayew being Roy Hodgson preferred option this campaign.

It has been mooted that Palace’s stance of a sale-only deal could be changed if they themselves bring in a forward this month, with Chelsea duo Michy Batshuayi and Olvier Giroud both reported targets.

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