Villa will demand £25 million for the Belgian striker.
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Aston Villa will not sell striker Christan Benteke for any less than £25 million and will use Darren Bent as proof that they can play hard ball when it comes to selling players, the Daily Mirror reports.
Tottenham have been heavily linked with a move for Benteke but Villa are insisting that the North London club pay £25 million for the Belgian striker, who scored 19 league goals in his debut season for Villa.
Spurs believe that this asking price is unrealistic and are set to bid £20 million for Benteke this week.
Benteke went on strike last summer to force through a move to Villa but Lambert will not let that happen at Villa Park and will insist that Spurs pay the asking price in order to sign the striker.
A Villa Park source used Darren Bent as an example of how stubborn Lambert could be.
“Paul Lambert will not be bullied. Look what he did to Darren Bent. He is the club’s record signing, but Paul did what he thought was best.”
However, Lambert has already drawn up a list of possible replacements for Benteke and they include Luc Castaignos of FC Twente and Alfred Finnbogason of Heerenveen.
Reports last week suggested that Benteke submitted a transfer request to Lambert in order to force his way out of the club.