ASTON VILLA COACH Paul Lambert said on Friday that the club have received no offers for out-of-favour striker Darren Bent and quashed rumours he had submitted a transfer request.
Lambert also dismissed reports that there is a clause in Bent’s contract obliging Villa to pay his former side Sunderland £3 million ($4.8 million, 3.7 million euros) if the England striker plays 50 league games for the club.
Bent, 28, has made 47 league appearances since joining Villa and has not been named in their squad for the last two matches.
“Have there been any enquiries for Bent? No. Has he asked to be put on the transfer list? No,” said Lambert.
“Is there a clause? That’s not true. I’m not sure where that came from.”
Having already lost his place in the Villa starting XI to Belgian striker Christian Benteke, Bent has seen himself slip behind 21-year-old Jordan Bowery in the pecking order as well.
“I see what happens every day in training. I see with my own eyes what goes on,” said Lambert when asked to explain his choices.
“Jordan Bowery’s potential is extremely high and he is an unknown quantity, which sometimes can work in your favour. I see every day what goes on.
“We’ve got 20-odd guys in the same boat together, which I pick from.”
Bye bye Bent. As a Villa fan I can’t understand it. Reading into it our manager is stating Bent isn’t doin enough in training. If and when Benteke gets injured and when Bent walks it’ll all end in tears. Likewise with Richard Dunne. He is fit and is nowhere to be seen. Which is bad news for Ireland fans.