Aston Villa should target Queens Park Rangers striker Charlie Austin if they sell Christian Benteke, according to Micah Richards.
Benteke, 24, has been linked with a summer move away from Villa, with Liverpool reported to be interested in the Belgium international.
Austin's future, meanwhile, is uncertain following QPR's relegation from the Premier League, with Leicester having seen a £12 million bid rejected for the forward.
Richards, who signed for Villa on a free transfer last month, said in the Birmingham Mail: "Charlie Austin has scored a lot of goals hasn't he? I think we just need a goal scorer if we were to get rid of Christian.
"Some of the games I watched towards the end of last season, he was winning games on his own. With the signings we have been linked with, it seems positive.
"But like anywhere, if you lose your main striker, it's always going to be tough to replace."
Richards admitted Benteke would be missed if he leaves Villa, having scored 42 Premier League goals in 89 appearances.
"He's one of the best strikers in the league so it's going to be difficult if he leaves," he added.
