We are all over the net being linked to this lad, no smoke without fire ?? McLeish has even come out saying he's not for sale which is a sure sign something is on..... http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11677/7395034/McLeish-Bent-not-for-sale McLeish a classic quote "I'm not willing to sell anybody at the moment, but you just don't know what will happen." http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/886034-liverpool-to-make-surprise-january-bid-for-darren-bent http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ional-bid-for-aston-villa-forward-darren-bent Personally I think we need a goal scorer to come top 4 especially with Suarez out for 2 Months and this guy has a proven premiereship pedigree so he might be exactly what the doctor ordered. I could see Kuyt going in the Summer and Bellamy in Summer 2013 so it's not as if we're top heavy for strikers.
Funny there - in the sky sports story McLeish says he wouldn't sell unless he could sign Luis Suarez. Maybe we have been enquiring
whatever people think about him theres no denying the lad is a goal scorer and we are crying out for one we wont no until we give him a go
If its the same one as i seen its a bleeding terrible piece.Quoting the 24 mill which Villa paid for him last January is the fee that paper is quoting we have to pay for him.No way is a 28 yr old who has become a bit injury prone over the last year worth that kind of money.
IMO Bent is a top player, he has scored goals everywhere despite never really being at a top club, but never for 24million for his age, I think 10million would be fair enough, but I don't think we need a centre forward even with Luis ban, I would prefer a loan signing like Keane coming back for a couple of months. I think buying another striker would undermine Carroll and send out the wrong message to him.
We both agree Bent scores goals, which is what every team needs.But id agree with you 10 mill is closer to the fee which would be acceptable for him.But there isnt much of a chance of Villa selling him for that, as who could they bring in for 10 mill realistically.
If we paid say 15-20m for Darren Bent and he scored the goals required to get us a top 4 spot no one would be complaining.I think he would be a great signing and I wouldn't let his age put us off.Having said that I don't expect us to much business this January.
Im not entirely convinced that Darren Bent is the right man for the job, but there's no doubt in my mind that he could do the job ... Question in my mind is, are we better to spend circa £20m on Bent, or spend £35m on someone who is in their early 20s and able to do the same job ? Either way, there's no doubt in my mind that we need at least one and preferably two definite goal scorers and we need them pronto, if we are going for 4th place this season.
Can't see us splurging big money on a striker unless we sell and get a good return on Carroll. The x factor here could be any decision to appeal/not appeal Suarez' ban.
£20m would be the going rate for a 27 Year old established premiereship goalscorer. Not having a pop at Downing ( again) but we paid £20m for him. Villa need the money and Bent wants to move to a top club. The general concensus is that his general play isn't great but he knows where the goal is. With Suarez out we need a goal scorer and we need one to hit the ground running. I don't think it would send any bad signals to Carroll apart from him having to fight for his spot. With Suarez out and it seems Bellamy can't really start back to back games so it's wide open.
Not really sure I'd like to be chasing Bent tbh. Seems to me that he tends to carry a lot of baggage. Feel out with Spurs and wanted to move, supposedly because of not getting enough games, then fell out with Sunderland and wanted a move, now (again I say supposedly as we can only read the papers and blogs) he has fallen out with McLeish and wants a move from Villa. Seems to throw his toys out of the pram a lot. Having said that, theres no doubting he is a talent and a good goal scorer. Maybe he's just one of those players that hasnt found the right club yet and we could be it. Just think he could be trouble if he's not playing.