Rumour - Darren Bent

[Royalcop]

Heard on Talksport transfer round-up this morning that we have an interest in Darren Bent. Probably just agent talk, can't see Villa giving a relegation rival a leg-up and WCBAP but he would be a brilliant signing for us.

[Readingensian]

I'd wee my pants in excitement if Squeeky can pull this one off. However, I very much doubt we'd be in for him. As you rightly say, WCBAP and surely would command a sizeable transfer fee. Well beyond us at this moment in time I fear.

[Royalcop]

I do wonder if we could agree a loan with the wages split (I'm assuming he's on c. 90k/week) and an agreement to buy predicated on us staying up. In some ways it might be in Villas interests if he were elsewhere taking points off their other relegation rivals (Sunderland, QPR, Saints) rather than sat on their bench sulking.

[Z175]

I believe its possible.

Firstly, his game on Saturday was his 49th appearance for Villa. That "£18m" move from Sunderland would have been structured, and i'm fairly sure the rumours of a large payment on the 50th appearance is true. He has barely played over the fast few months as he closed on this mark, and got to 48 in November. Suddenly, its the January transfer window and he plays that 49th game!

Secondly, Villa have a quite a few ex-first team players who are not in Lamberts team but are on huge wages and are rumoured not to have relegation clauses http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/ ... ge-1519589

So Villa are desperate to sell, but who to? No top team will want a striker who, for whatever reason, isn't getting a game in a struggling side. I cna't see a mid table team that would want him, Sunderland are unlikely to want him back given the way he forced the move. Stoke have Walters, Crouch, Jones Owen, Jerome .... Newcastle could be a likely destination but they're more likely to have a better option lined up abroad.

So if Villa are stuck with selling him to their relegation rivals, I think they might do it. Afterall, if they think he's good enough to keep a team up, they'd play him themselves.

From our perspective is we what we need? I think we've shown we can play all guns blazing and be freescoring, or tighten up and try and nick a goal. Bent and Pogrebnyak would be perfect in that scenario, 1 shot, 1 goal.

And how much would this sizable fee be? Villa want him off their books, if selling him saves them say, £6m, then even a £4m fee is like a 10m benefit to them. If they think that would be better spent on their young squad than keeping Bent, then a knockdown fee is likely.

Would he come here? He must be desperate to leave after this season. The way he left spurs for first team football shows to me hes happier playing. If he scores goals and we go down, I'm sure there would be a release fee for him anyway. Of course wages would be a stumbling block but he'll be missing out on appearances and goal bonuses right now, which is probably a decent chunk. If we offer him less basic but the chance to play and score, who knows...

On the other hand, this is probably his Agent putting the feelers out for a big fee for him. We all know we won't sign anybody else!

[Barry the bird boggler]

More chance of signing Messi!

[Stooper]

Reading to sign the former transfer record English striker?

Yeah, right.

[cmonurz]

:lol:

Reading to sign the former transfer record English striker?

Yeah, right.

^This.

[Z175]

:lol:

Reading to sign the former transfer record English striker?

Yeah, right.

^This.

I don't see thats relevant? Reading to break English transfer record, yeah right. But former? Les Ferdinand only missed the record by 6 months...

Appreciate Bent is still in his peak but hes not a 30 goal a season striker at present.

[Esteban]

Nice idea, but it won't happen. We'd never be able to afford his wages and Villa aren't likely to help a direct relegation rival.

[cmonurz]

:lol:

Reading to sign the former transfer record English striker?

Yeah, right.

^This.

I don't see thats relevant? Reading to break English transfer record, yeah right. But former? Les Ferdinand only missed the record by 6 months...

Appreciate Bent is still in his peak but hes not a 30 goal a season striker at present.

It's relevant because he's only had one poor season (or been injured for most of it).

It's just about being realistic. Why would Darren Bent join Reading? What's the point?

[pea]

Think he'll probably have better options

Like warming the bench at Villa

[westongeezer]

How odd, i have just heard albiet not 100% in the slightest hes having a medical now @ the Mad Stad.....

[chris2703]

I have heard from a mate of mine who is a huge villa fan that if he has a clause in his contract that if he plays 1 or 2 more times he is due a large bonus. This could make a loan deal very realistic from villas financial point of view. hwever would villa give us a hand? doubtful i would say. If this happens it could be siialr to jason roberts deal last year.

[cmonurz]

I have heard from a mate of mine who is a huge villa fan that if he has a clause in his contract that if he plays 1 or 2 more times he is due a large bonus. This could make a loan deal very realistic from villas financial point of view. hwever would villa give us a hand? doubtful i would say. If this happens it could be siialr to jason roberts deal last year.

What I find laughable about that situation is there's very little doubt that playing him has much more value to a Villa side fighting against relegation than saving his bonus does.

[SPARTA]

Heard on Talksport transfer round-up this morning that we have an interest in Darren Bent. Probably just agent talk, can't see Villa giving a relegation rival a leg-up and WCBAP but he would be a brilliant signing for us.

Probably just transfer talk?

[SouthDownsRoyal]

wages could be a problem

[Royalwaster]

wages could be a problem

Don't think anyone has said that WCBAP

[royalsteve]

yes please, said 3 weeks ago he would be a good signing but i cant see it happening as im sure villa wont let him go unless someone else comes in

[M-U-R-T-Y]

Make of this what you will, but a friend has just told me he rang the ticket office, they put him on hold but didn't do it properly and he overheard them talking about Bent having a medical down at Hogwood this afternoon.

[skipper]

Make of this what you will, but a friend has just told me he rang the ticket office, they put him on hold but didn't do it properly and he overheard them talking about Bent having a medical down at Hogwood this afternoon.