Blackburn Rovers FC

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Hughes rules out Bentley exit

15 May 2008 - 11:23:37

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Blackburn boss Mark Hughes insists David Bentley will still be at Ewood Park next season even if the England international refuses to sign the new Rovers contract he has been offered.

The 23-year-old former Arsenal star has enjoyed a scintillating season with Rovers alerting several other clubs to his availability, with Tottenham the latest to express an interest in him.

However, Hughes is adamant that one of his hottest properties will not be allowed to leave the club this summer, telling the Lancashire Evening Telegraph: "We've offered David a new contract to reward him for the season he's just had.

"If he doesn't sign it then it's not a problem, we'll just stay as we are and move forward.

"We'll probably have to put up with a lot of speculation about David's situation over the summer, but I've said it so many times now that I'm sure everyone is clear about my view on it.

"We haven't put a price on his head, and we aren't going to. Some people in the papers are trying to say that we've actually stated a price that we'd accept, but that isn't the case - it's inaccurate.

"I need to add to the quality here, not take quality away.

"Okay, I might be able to get a certain amount of money for any given player in the squad, but are you able to replace that quality with similar quality for the same price? It's difficult.

"I'd rather keep what I know, and keep the players that I've worked with, because they understand what I want and you don't have to start the process from a low point again, and build up to the point where you've had players with you for two or three years, which is where we are now.

"So it doesn't make sense to let players go, certainly when I don't have to."

Bentley has scored 21 goals in 133 appearances for Rovers since joining the club three years ago.