Signed: Darren Bent £18m rising to £24m with add on's

[theunderstudy]

just want this deal to be done now, bear in mind we have heard nothing offical direct from the club as far as im aware

We never do until things are signed and sealed.

im sure we have heard snippets before with signings, im just abit concerned there has been no offical news of a bid accepted, or even rejected or Bent down for a medical, take for instance the Piennar current transfer, its common knowledge and offical that spurs had a bid rejected and chelsea accepted, we've had 7nothing like that for this.

See my post on it.

[sparey16]

in regards to the price, it doesnt bother me as its not my cash, however i hope by signing bent for the reported 18-24m it doesnt stop us signing in the summer, but as stated if we sign adams and bent and possibly a LB, along with Walker potential signing and Makoun, we may not need to seriously buy in the summer.

[fran_villa]

im sure we have heard snippets before with signings, im just abit concerned there has been no offical news of a bid accepted, or even rejected or Bent down for a medical, take for instance the Piennar current transfer, its common knowledge and offical that spurs had a bid rejected and chelsea accepted, we've had nothing like that for this.

It's because we aren't a london club.. they won't go that extra mile to find out more news.

And its better of that way, maybe Villa and Sunderland have also agreed to kep everything hush. It's kind of in both clubs best interests that way.

[Houlston]

im sure we have heard snippets before with signings, im just abit concerned there has been no offical news of a bid accepted, or even rejected or Bent down for a medical, take for instance the Piennar current transfer, its common knowledge and offical that spurs had a bid rejected and chelsea accepted, we've had nothing like that for this.

It's because we aren't a london club.. they won't go that extra mile to find out more news.

Hold on lads play fair, as much as sky winds me up, yetserday they were pretty much jizzing about it all day, had a reporter standing outside both training grounds all day although not sure the one qualified as a reporter.

Weve been keeping this transfer hush hush so maybe the details etc are being kept quiet as well.

[dudevillaisnice]

All we need to buy in the summer is a GK that is it.

[dudevillaisnice]

Bent said to be unhappy with Sunderland's reluctance to open negotiations over a new contract and he felt unloved by the club.

Twitter (abraham)

[lmarsha_926]

TimothyAbraham Timothy Abraham

Bent said to be unhappy with Sunderland's reluctance to open negotiations over a new contract and he felt unloved by the club. #AVFC

53 seconds ago

[Cracker1234]

How can that fee be justified? Or is it value for money? Just the going rate for a young-ish, English goal-scorer?

When Bent completes his move to Aston Villa this week, the reasons for which are discussed elsewhere on this site, he will carry the burden of yet another, on the face of it, ludicrous transfer fee.

But look at the statistics and they prove Gerard Houllier is buying class, and the most precious commodity of all.

Bent, over the last five years, had guaranteed goals at the top level... even when playing for sides that have struggled at times.

It is the perfect fit for Villa. And it is a devastating loss for Sunderland, no matter how the exit is packaged by the club.

Statistics revealed by Opta show that since August 2005 Darren Bent has scored 81 Premier League goals.

Only Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba, playing for title chasing more talented sides, have more with 82 each. (15 of Bent’s goals have been penalties though compared to three of Drogba’s and five of Rooney’s)

But he is up there shooting with the best. Top English goal scorer in the Premier League in 2010.

For example, since August 2009 when Bent moved to Sunderland from Spurs (hurt by Harry Redknapp saying his wife Sandra could finish some of the chances he was missing), only Drogba and Carlos Tevez have scored more Premier League goals, with 37 to Bent’s 32 in 57 games.

That sort of form is priceless to Villa, or any other club needing goals to haul themselves out of relegation trouble.

Bent has 11 strikes this season at a time when he has not looked his usual sharp self. If he can double that at Villa, and lift them well clear of the drop, he will pay for himself.

Study the cost of relegation £50 million, turmoil and recriminations, and an investment now in Bent, no matter how inflated the fee seems, is wise.

Sunderland can also use Opta analysis to show how from their point of view they could be cashing in on a prize asset at peak value.

It has not gone unnoticed, by from fans to manager Steve Bruce, that Bent has missed a few chances recently. Most alarmingly during the clash with Blackpool when Sunderland had 32 shots and failed to score, eventually losing 2-0.

Last season at his peak Bent scored a goal every 141 minutes, this season that has drifted to every 218 minutes.

His chance conversion rate has dropped from a goal every four chances to once every six chances.

His shooting accuracy has fallen from 57% to 41%.

None of this represents a poor return, he was still highly regarded at the Stadium of Light and undoubtedly the main man. But it will give Bruce and chairman Niall Quinn leeway to explain why he is leaving – quite apart from his transfer request.

So when Villa pull off this deal remember they are spending cash earned from cashing in James Milner to Manchester City for pds18 million.

I admire Milner as a character and a player, but Villa fans may conclude they may get more of a tangible return from having Bent in their side right now.

He will be a big loss to Sunderland, and a big signing for Houllier. Perhaps the catalyst for a recovery.

Bent will also be missed in the North East. He took an interest in the region, was keen to get out and about, and was good at helping nurture and guide Sunderland’s youngsters behind the scenes with his friendship.

Villa will be signing a gem of a person and a player, and he’ll prove his worth

Mirror

Repost of Simon Birds article, best thing I've read from the Mirror in months/years.

[Pricey_1984]

i gotta agree with a few on here, i'm sick of the media coverage of this. First of all if it was one of the big 4 or man city it would dominate the whole of sky sports news for a hour.

Then we've got the people who are saying why would he wanna come here? well sorry sunderland fans but been above someone in the league does not make you a bigger club.

Then i see people saying you gotta feel sorry for steve bruce he was building something at sunderland. I didnt hear people feeling sorry for us when we lost barry or a year later when we lost milner.

i dont think the media like seeing midlands clubs do well or make big signings at all.

Anyway really hope the deal gets done, we've been crying out for a top striker for years.

[Genie]

24m outright for Bent is ludicrous, English or not. He's a great finisher, and I'd like him here, but should be 18m (assuming that starting point has been accurately reported) rising to 20m, max, imo. Hope we've wrangled them down.

I've not seen or heard a single report claiming it to be £24m outright.

[dudevillaisnice]

Also speculation he allegedly missed training sessions and not been on speaking terms with Steve Bruce for a while prompting move to #avfc

- Abraham

Villa tying up loose ends of Bent deal as we speak. Unveiling scheduled for this afternoon, hopefully

- Kendrick

[Maradona10]

How can that fee be justified? Or is it value for money? Just the going rate for a young-ish, English goal-scorer?

When Bent completes his move to Aston Villa this week, the reasons for which are discussed elsewhere on this site, he will carry the burden of yet another, on the face of it, ludicrous transfer fee.

But look at the statistics and they prove Gerard Houllier is buying class, and the most precious commodity of all.

Bent, over the last five years, had guaranteed goals at the top level... even when playing for sides that have struggled at times.

It is the perfect fit for Villa. And it is a devastating loss for Sunderland, no matter how the exit is packaged by the club.

Statistics revealed by Opta show that since August 2005 Darren Bent has scored 81 Premier League goals.

Only Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba, playing for title chasing more talented sides, have more with 82 each. (15 of Bent’s goals have been penalties though compared to three of Drogba’s and five of Rooney’s)

But he is up there shooting with the best. Top English goal scorer in the Premier League in 2010.

For example, since August 2009 when Bent moved to Sunderland from Spurs (hurt by Harry Redknapp saying his wife Sandra could finish some of the chances he was missing), only Drogba and Carlos Tevez have scored more Premier League goals, with 37 to Bent’s 32 in 57 games.

That sort of form is priceless to Villa, or any other club needing goals to haul themselves out of relegation trouble.

Bent has 11 strikes this season at a time when he has not looked his usual sharp self. If he can double that at Villa, and lift them well clear of the drop, he will pay for himself.

Study the cost of relegation £50 million, turmoil and recriminations, and an investment now in Bent, no matter how inflated the fee seems, is wise.

Sunderland can also use Opta analysis to show how from their point of view they could be cashing in on a prize asset at peak value.

It has not gone unnoticed, by from fans to manager Steve Bruce, that Bent has missed a few chances recently. Most alarmingly during the clash with Blackpool when Sunderland had 32 shots and failed to score, eventually losing 2-0.

Last season at his peak Bent scored a goal every 141 minutes, this season that has drifted to every 218 minutes.

His chance conversion rate has dropped from a goal every four chances to once every six chances.

His shooting accuracy has fallen from 57% to 41%.

None of this represents a poor return, he was still highly regarded at the Stadium of Light and undoubtedly the main man. But it will give Bruce and chairman Niall Quinn leeway to explain why he is leaving – quite apart from his transfer request.

So when Villa pull off this deal remember they are spending cash earned from cashing in James Milner to Manchester City for pds18 million.

I admire Milner as a character and a player, but Villa fans may conclude they may get more of a tangible return from having Bent in their side right now.

He will be a big loss to Sunderland, and a big signing for Houllier. Perhaps the catalyst for a recovery.

Bent will also be missed in the North East. He took an interest in the region, was keen to get out and about, and was good at helping nurture and guide Sunderland’s youngsters behind the scenes with his friendship.

Villa will be signing a gem of a person and a player, and he’ll prove his worth

Mirror

Repost of Simon Birds article, best thing I've read from the Mirror in months/years.

This was the article i was referring to and very fair in his assessment.

[dudevillaisnice]

99p for AVTV is it? I'm going to buy it now

[dazbent]

I heard about this transfer on Sunday from someone i know that works within the club laughed and said no way when the person told me couldn't believe it when it popped up on SSN yesterday the person who told me quickly text me and said told u!

[jat_r]

I'm thinking about buying it too if there is going to be a press conference with Bent and Makoun!

[MYSTERYMAN]

Please stop panicking about Funds I said weeks months ago we had money for Transfers and it's proved right GH has been given the go ahead to revamp the squad but part of that revamping is bringing the kids thru Clarke / Bannan / Albrighton etc .

It was never about the funds it was about the wage bill and the bench warmers who are also bad apples .

They were seriously considering at one point making a bid for Diarra some of you know that because I told you but it was dismissed not because of the money but because we are not champions league .

Lerner is nobody's fool and yes maybe he took his eye off the ball re MON but he knows what we have to do to get us back to a challenging position .

It would be nice to think the fans that have voted with their feet might start backing the club again and go down to VP aswell .

[dudevillaisnice]

@MrNathanBE Nathan Edwards

Kevin Phillips, I know you're a Sunderland legend but please keep quiet! Find out the facts before you start talking your nonsense.

LOL haha, Bent's best mate apparently said that.

[mjmooney]

im sure we have heard snippets before with signings, im just abit concerned there has been no offical news of a bid accepted, or even rejected or Bent down for a medical, take for instance the Piennar current transfer, its common knowledge and offical that spurs had a bid rejected and chelsea accepted, we've had nothing like that for this.

It's because we aren't a london club.. they won't go that extra mile to find out more news.

Yup, I was out most of the day yesterday. followed the news on here but didn't get a chance to switch on SSN until about 9pm.. All they mentioned about Bent was a headline every 20 minutes that he'd handed in a transfer request and we'd bid.

If it was spurs bidding 18m for a player they'd be showing it for about 59 minutes of each 60 minute bulletin.

TalkShite sports news bulletin had it as second item, after "Andy Murray beats some nobody in some tournament or other".

[Cracker1234]

I messaged Simon Bird and told him I liked his article, he messaged back this

You are lucky fans. He will be great for villa.

He thinks highly of him.

[thunderball]

Even at a straight £24m & £80K/wk I could justify it in the f*cked up world that is the current Premier League. The press need a story, they'll be onto something new by the weekend.

At last it looks like we are making that last step towards a credible top team, the step that Spurs made when 'Arry arrived. To know there is more to come makes me even happier.