Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert says the club has not opened discussions with striker Christian Benteke over a new contract. Lambert claims neither party has pushed for any negotiations and that situation will not change before the summer.

Lambert said: "I think the most important thing is the league until the end of the season, I heard somebody say he's been promised a new contract but I can't have been a part of those conversations.

"I speak to him all the time, not about contracts, I just tell him to keep it going really. And he's never once mentioned anything to me about contracts.

"He's got a contract here anyway as it stands, but I think it's important we stay in this league and do as well as we've been doing.

"As I said before I've never had one conversation with him regarding contracts or anything like that, he's not that type of lad. I'm sure come the end of the season we'll sit down and it'll be just Chris and a few others."