Liverpool & QPR Ready to Pounce as Aston Villa Prepare to Sell Darren Bent by The Newshound October 14th, 2012 Aston Villa are ready to sell Darren Bent in January as his feud with boss Paul Lambert deepens, writes The People. Liverpool and QPR will be alerted to the availability of the England striker who has been dumped on the bench by his club and stripped of the captaincy. Villa will listen to offers in the transfer window for a player they paid £18million to Sunderland for 18 months ago. The deal rises to £24m with add-ons over the course of his contract. Lambert made Bent captain at the start of the season but quickly handed the armband over to defender Ron Vlaar. Bent was then axed for games against West Brom and Tottenham, and People Sport understands the 28-year-old will be allowed to leave if the right offer comes in. There has been speculation that the relationship between Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert and the clubâs top marksman have been frosty at best and now according to this source this has led to the Villa Park boss being ready to offload the one player who appears able to score for the club on a relatively regular basis. Over the past six or seven years the former Tottenham and Sunderland man has been one of the most consistent strikers in the Premier League but this hasnât led to much in the way of plaudits or indeed tangible club success and a move away from the Midlands side may well tempt Bent. Liverpool could well do with an alternative attacking option. Currently Brendan Rodgers has just Luis Suarez to count upon as a senior striking source, especially now that Italian Fabio Borini has suffered a broken foot. The Anfield boss has been forced to turn to youth on the wings with Raheem Sterling and Suso and could in theory throw promising teenager Adam Morgan in at the deep end but the Merseyside club lack another prolific weapon. QPR have similarly struggled for form and goals and if a move back to London tempts Bent then perhaps Loftus Road would be an option, the Tooting born forward having spent time at White Hart Lane and at Charlton Athletic. Bent has netted 20 goals in 45 Premier League appearances for Aston Villa following his £18m move from the Stadium of Light and one would imagine that American chairman Randy Lerner would demand a similar fee, perhaps even larger, if they were to consider selling the England international.
Nope. Although IF spending that in Jan was a sure way to stay in PL then money well spent. Too many uncertainties.
Not been at his best through injuries etc and if Lambert has seen first-hand an attitude problem he's the last thing we need...
I'd take a fit Darren Bent with his head in the right place. From Wiki: Villa 20 goals in 45 appearances; Sunderland 32 in 58 Spurs 18 in 60 Charlton 31 in 68 Ipswich 48 in 122 A goal every 2.4 games
If he were to have offers from Liverpool and us, he' probably go to Liverpool. But having already apparently spent £9 million on Granero, I wouldn'd be so suprised if we spent £18 million.
Of course it's just speculation - especially this far from a transfer window. But they're talking £24m here, not the £18m Villa paid for his signature! This for another proven injury risk who, when he plays, scores one every two or three games. Can't see him lighting any fires if he played for us. Would much prefer two or three hungry younger unknown strikers in the squad myself: one of them would surely rise to the occasion and become a prospect. Much cheaper too. As for Granero at £9m. Only 25 and haven't had to wait for him to find form have we? Performs week in week out. Much better deal than this speculation about Bent imo.
What makes anybody think anybody would pay 18 million for Darren Bent again?! Villa will get 12mil MAX for him.
He must be close to Rooney as the top scoring Englishman in the PL in the last 5 years and that's for mid table clubs (Spurs aside). Can't see why we wouldn't want him. Doubt we could afford him and doubt he'd come to us. Just proof that journos get bored and desperate during international breaks.
Maybe it is Sooper, tho he has a good strike record.. My point was that having apparently recently paid £9 million for one player, I won't be surprised if we pay £18 for another soon. We need a CB, top priority, a striker, 2nd priority, and with 2 injury prone LB's, probably a LB as well. A good striker in January won't come cheap.
This gelling excuse is a load of of tosh. Good players don't need 6 weeks to learn to play with each other, and they have all had at least 6 weeks now. The problem is spelt Hughes.
Too old, too injury prone and it would be 18m down the drain. He would be over 30 and worthless by the time his contract comes to an end.
Yep just what we need another bloke on the downbeat of his career looking for a club to ease him into retirement.
Thought I'd stir it up a bit with the dreaded G word - thus the reason for the inverted commas around gel. Totally agree with ya Oslo. This gel sh1te gets me going too. 6 weeks is plenty.
Gel - that's a made up word for managers who haven't got a clue what they are doing and looking to buy themselves a bit more time.
