Cracker1234 Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 DARREN Bent will be officially unveiled as Villa’s £18 million star striker today after chairman Randy Lerner astonishingly smashed the club’s transfer record. And manager Gerard Houllier will NOT be forced to cash in on prize assets Ashley Young and Stewart Downing this month to finance Villa’s biggest ever deal. Bent’s transfer fee could rise to as much as £24 million, depending on add-ons, which would double the claret and blues’ previous highest £12 million outlay on a player. The astounding deal for the Sunderland favourite is a statement of intent from Lerner of his determination to revitalise Villa after their alarming tumble down the Premier League this season. Lerner’s decision to sanction such a marquee signing is also a unanimous show of faith in Houllier and the board’s commitment to back the Frenchman’s revolution. It takes Villa’s spending in the past week to £23 million following the arrival of Cameroon midfielder Jean Makoun for £5m plus from Lyon at the weekend. Bent boasts 153 club goals in 363 appearances, including 129 in 312 league games, while his Premier League tally is an impressive 82 goals in 190 games. He burst onto the scene with a glut of goals at Ipswich and has been prolific at all of his clubs, Charlton, Tottenham and Sunderland. Bent travelled down to the Midlands yesterday to complete a medical, agree personal terms and put pen to paper on a four-and-a-half year deal. The 26-year-old goal-getter handed in a transfer request yesterday to force the Black Cats’ hand with Steve Bruce was reluctant to sell. It is understood that Bent will join Villa’s top earners on more than £60,000 per week – a £20,000 rise – so his wages will not disrupt the pay structure. The Villa Park faithful will get their first glimpse of Bent on Saturday when he is expected to make his debut at home to title-chasing Manchester City. Blackpool have now formally rejected Villa’s £3.5 million second offer for Charlie Adam. Houllier is pondering whether to up the bid again or turn his attention to another midfield target. The arrival of a left-back would complete his January business but, contrary to reports Villa are not interested in Wigan full back Maynor Figueroa and maintain there has been no approach from Liverpool after a temporary move for Stephen Warnock. Birmingham Mail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG_Villa_Fan Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Great bit of business, whatever the price tag we need a goalscorer and we shouldn't forget we're yet to play the games to get us out of the relegation struggle. Bent will help and more importnantly, it's a sign of ambition. It also shows that money talks more than league position, if this was ever in question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jez Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Keane turned them down yesterday too? To be fair they pulled out of the deal, probably because he wanted shit loads. Official club photographer arrived at BMH apparently according to SSN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dotcomsimon Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Apparently club photographer has just turned up at BMH... wonder what for? Just seen that, ginger pete (ssn) also said he would think that this should all be done in a few hours Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morley_crosses_to_Withe Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Pete Colley (SSN) saying it's 18M plus add-ons including £1.5M if we stay up, £1.5M if Bent scores a certain amount of goals etc. He's also said that Bent is due at the training ground within the next couple of hours. Our official photographer has arrived in preparation. Also saying we're still after Adam and looking for a CB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AValon Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Apparently club photographer has just turned up at BMH... wonder what for? The unveiling of Makouns Spring collection! 8) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tehnath Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Isn't the club photographer there pretty much every day though? OS are always posting pictures of the players training and such. Sounds like SSN making a meal of bugger all tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted January 18, 2011 Moderator Share Posted January 18, 2011 Pete Colley (SSN) saying it's 18M plus add-ons including £1.5M if we stay up :shock: Let's hope it's £19.5m then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudevillaisnice Posted January 18, 2011 Author Share Posted January 18, 2011 Is Darren the player we can solely rely on to keep us up in the league (scoring goals) ? I think he is with albrighton/downing/ash whipping in the crosses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theunderstudy Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Hey! I trademarked In the Jumper Holding the shirt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houlston Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Hey! I trademarked In the Jumper Holding the shirt! i think it would be brilliant if we could try and get as many fans as possible to wear tank tops/golf jumpers for the last home game of the season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chappy Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Hey! I trademarked In the Jumper Holding the shirt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chappy Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 right I'm going out now, I'll be back in a couple of hours...hope it's all signed and sealed by then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genie Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Isn't the club photographer there pretty much every day though? OS are always posting pictures of the players training and such. Sounds like SSN making a meal of bugger all tbh. I think we need to agree if the media are giving us too much or too little coverage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted January 18, 2011 VT Supporter Share Posted January 18, 2011 No it isn't but not going to let on anything else . Hold on to your seats ! Meltdown 2 'The return'! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villatillidie1980 Posted January 18, 2011 VT Supporter Share Posted January 18, 2011 This is killing me, had the day of work 'cos i've got shit loads to do, however i find myself sat with SSN on, talksport on and flicking between here and newsnow!! Still a bit nervy, what with people talking about other clubs interested now or people talking about Sunderland stalling! UTV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudevillaisnice Posted January 18, 2011 Author Share Posted January 18, 2011 West Ham and Liverpool are both having more coverage than this story on SSN.. unbelievable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenz Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Don't worry so much.... fee agreed, personal terms sorted, spent the night in Brum to get it sorted asap.... I've got an inkling he REALLY wants to be here, No problem man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villatillidie1980 Posted January 18, 2011 VT Supporter Share Posted January 18, 2011 Don't worry so much.... fee agreed, personal terms sorted, spent the night in Brum to get it sorted asap.... I've got an inkling he REALLY wants to be here, No problem man I think you are right that he wants to come, the fact he submitted a transfer request following our initial contact speaks volumes! To me it also says a lot that, despite our league position, we are still an attractive proposition. Surely that is down to Randy and dare I say it GH? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maradona10 Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 I think he's been reading this message board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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