Source: Northern_Echo
Quinn holds out for £24m after Bent hands in transfer request
SUNDERLAND are holding out for a record-busting £24m deal with Aston Villa for striker Darren Bent and are drawing up a list of replacements with proven track records.[LNB] Bent was understood to be in the West Midlands last night waiting for the go-ahead to discuss personal terms with Villa on a day that shocked Wearside.[LNB] Just hours after Sunderland snatched a late point with Newcastle United, the 26-year-old submitted a written transfer request and that has led to lengthy negotiations with their Premier League counterparts.[LNB] Villa made their interest known in Bent towards the back end of last week and that prompted an initial offer of around £18m arriving at the Stadium of Light.[LNB] But the Villans were told to forget about signing the England international for that figure and now talks are continuing in the hope an agreement can be reached.[LNB] Sunderland are maintaining they want to receive in the region of £24m, which represents a £14m mark up on the fee they initially had to pay to Tottenham 18 months ago.[LNB] The likelihood is that the clubs may have to agree on a fee somewhere in between, after Bent made it known how keen he is to leave the North- East and head for Villa Park.[LNB] Bent has not reached the performance levels that he had been hitting last season and there have been mutterings of discontent around his situation since the start of the season.[LNB] There are claims he handed in a transfer request in the summer, when he was knocked back over discussions over a new contract after speculation that Fenerbahce had expressed an interest in his services.[LNB] Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has always maintained that he wanted to keep Bent, although he has also conceded on numerous occasions that every player has his price.[LNB] That is a stance that chairman Niall Quinn and owner Ellis Short have been keen to take, but they do have a valuation which they feel is fair and will do their best to have it matched.[LNB] Quinn is more than happy to play hard ball with Villa in an attempt to receive the top price for a player who has scored 36 goals in his one-anda- half seasons on Wearside.[LNB] But there is an acceptance that Bent will be leaving, provided Aston Villa can come up with a package that satisfies their demands and ensures they are in a strong financial position to bring in a replacement.[LNB] Bruce and Quinn have already plotted a plan since learning of Bent's intentions on Sunday night and they are thought to have expressed an interest in a couple of players already.[LNB] But with clubs in the Premier League either reluctant to do business this month or commanding high fees, they are now looking to approach a number of clubs in Europe.[LNB] The priority will be to sign a striker capable of slotting in immediately to replace Bent, even if it is on loan until the end of the season with a view to a permanent deal in the summer.[LNB] But having not really planned for this scenario, Bruce does not know whether or not he will have a new forward in for the trip to Blackpool on Saturday.[LNB] The finance raised by the imminent sale of Bent will strengthen his hand on a couple of other fronts, but Bruce knows he will have to ensure another striker arrives before January 31.[LNB] Manchester United are likely to want in excess of £10m to even contemplate turning Danny Welbeck's loan in to a full-time switch, while Manchester City hope for around £8m for Nedum Onuoha, who remains hopeful of a return to Eastlands.[LNB] Bruce has also expressed strong interest in Paris St Germain's attack-minded Stephane Sessegnon and Inter Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari, but neither are capable of replacing Bent as a striker.[LNB] Sunderland's Premier League fixture with Liverpool at the Stadium of Light has been switched to Sunday, March 20 (1.30pm), to be televised by Sky.[LNB]
