Tottenham to use Emmanuel Adebayor as part of swap deal for Aston Villa star Christian Benteke

Tottenham Hotspur are considering an approach for Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke, according to the Mirror.

The Belgium international has a £32.5m release clause in his contract, which was confirmed by his manager Tim Sherwood. The north London club are unwilling to meet the Midlands club's asking price.

Mauricio Pochettino is hoping to use Emmanuel Adebayor as part of a player-plus-cash deal in bringing the 24-year-old to White Hart Lane in the summer transfer window. The former Arsenal and Manchester striker is surplus to requirements at Tottenham, despite his desire to continue at the club.

Adebayor excelled under Sherwood's guidance at Tottenham during the second half of the 2013/14 season, scoring 14 goals from 25 appearances. The Togo international's employers believe his relationship with his former manager could negotiate a swap deal with Villa.

He earns £100,000-a-week ($157,120) at Tottenham, something which he has to compromise if he decides to rejoin Sherwood at Villa Park. Pochettino's side are willing to part ways with Adebayor as they need to bring in a striker to bolster their strike force.

The former Southampton boss believes the addition of Benteke to his side's squad will strengthen the attacking division. Any move from Tottenham for the Villa star will see them face competition from Liverpool.

The Merseyside club are also in the race for Benteke's signature. The Independent reports Liverpool are willing to offer Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert as part of the deal in signing the Belgian frontman.

Villa are unwilling to lower the price tag as they want the interested clubs to meet their asking price. Benteke was signed for £7m ($11m) from Belgium club Genk in 2012. The Daily Mail claims the striker's former club are due to earn 15% of any profit Villa make.

Both Tottenham and Liverpool are unwilling to match Benteke's release clause, while Villa remain unrelenting as they have to pay a portion of the profit from his sale to Genk.