Aston Villa have managed to secure Christian Benteke to a new deal without a buyout clause.

The Daily Mail says the Birmingham club persuaded the Belgium forward to sign a four-year deal late last week after talks between manager Paul Lambert and the player.

Benteke secured a whopping pay rise, lifting his wages beyond the £2.5m-a-year mark as he became the eighth player to earn himself a new deal.

Now it seems Villa have negotiated a contract that does not include any release clause.