Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood insists Christian Benteke is happy in the West Midlands.

Benteke is being linked with Liverpool, Manchester United and AS Roma.

"It is a very poor time to leave just before a Euro Championship or World Cup," said the Villa manager. "It is a gamble for anyone.

"If you are settled somewhere and scoring goals and the idea is to stay in the international squad, then better the devil you know.

"You look at strikers at all of those clubs, Radamel Falcao, Mario Balotelli, the new environment, is hard, it takes time to settle. You don't need that when you are looking forward to a European Championship and your country is due to win it.

"He could go to another club, be a bit-part player and then fall out of the squad for Belgium, who will be favourites to win it. By playing for Aston Villa it is not keeping him out of that squad is it? He is still the No 1 choice at No 9.

"Marc Wilmots (Belgium manager) is pleased he has got back in the team recently and is firing on all cylinders. They can only benefit from that."