Karim Benzema and an Aston Villa transfer that was tipped to happen

Karim Benzema is getting better with age.

The Real Madrid striker hit a hat-trick in the first leg of his side's Champions League quarter-final with Chelsea on Wednesday night. Benzema followed up his match-winning heroics against Paris Saint-Germain in the previous round with a potentially tie-deciding treble in London.

There has been talk of Real planning for life after Benzema with a move for compatriot Kylian Mbappe or Borussia Dortmund goal machine Erling Haaland. However, Benzema has shown no signs of slowing down with a remarkable 37 goals in 36games this season.

The former Olympique Lyon striker has netted over 300 times in total for Madrid, but it hasn't always been like this. Benzema was a transfer target for Aston Villa 12 years ago, while Gerard Houllier, who used to manage Benzema at Lyon, was in charge in B6.

It was reported that Benzema was unsettled a year after his £30 million move to the Santiago Bernabeu in 2009. "If Karim wants to come and play at Aston Villa, we would sign him tomorrow," Houllier said back in November 2010.

It was even reported that a potential move went as far as Benzema telling Houllier that he would like to move to Villa on loan with a replacement for John Carew needed. At the time, Benzema was struggling for a game under Jose Mourinho, but injury to Gonzalo Higuain scuppered any chances of a move.

But Houllier would play down his side's chances of a move for Benzema come the January window. "I don't think Benzema will come to Villa," Houllier said.

"Jose said he is missing strikers, so how can he get rid of one of the only ones he has available at the moment? "I think he is trying to sign a new striker.

"I didn't even dare to get in touch with Jose because I know the situation