Bent on brink of £18m switch from Sunderland

SUNDERLAND striker Darren Bent is on the verge of a sensational £18m switch to Aston Villa. Bent, who is the Black Cats' record signing, is currently travelling to the Midlands to discuss a move that could eventually see his fee rise as high as £24m. With negotiations having taken place overnight, Bent is understood to have submitted a transfer request to hasten his move to Villa. The England international has been a massive success on Wearside, since arriving in a club-record £16m move from Tottenham 18 months ago. He has scored 32 goals in 58 league games for Sunderland.

Source: Northern_Echo