Tottenham will attempt to scupper Villa’s hopes of landing David Bentley after they entered the bidding war for the Blackburn winger.
It is understood Martin O’Neill was the first to move for the England international, with a £15m bid rejected by Rovers.
Reports suggest Spurs boss Juande Ramos has responded by making an offer of his own, believed to be around £7m plus winger Aaron Lennon, which has also been snubbed.
Bentley has made clear his intention to leave Ewood Park this summer with the midfielder also able to count Manchester City, the new club of former boss Mark Hughes, and Liverpool among his admirers.
O’Neill is keen to add a right-sided attacking player to his squad for next season and Lennon’s name has been mentioned as another possible target.
Yet it is White Hart Lane which currently appears his most likely destination, with the former Arsenal youngster believed to be keen on a return to the capital.
Rovers’ new boss Paul Ince and chairman John Williams both insist publicly that they intend to hold onto the 23-year-old.
Ince said: “I want to keep my best players– Bentley, Santa Cruz, all of them. I will speak to the players and the rest of the squad.”
Williams added: “There is only one player who has publicly stated he would like to leave. Mark Hughes had said before, with my support, ‘no you can’t’ to David Bentley.
“We will have to see where Paul is. It is a new regime, a new man.
“He will want to sit down with David, I am sure. What he will get is the same support from me in that arena that Mark did.”
Yet privately they are believed to be resigned to the talented midfielder’s departure and now intend to hold out for as much cash as possible.
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21 Comments
villa have never entered a bidding war in their pursuit for anyone, we are the masters at trying to bolt the stable door once the horse has bolted.
cant wait for euro 2008 to finish because then we might have our manager throwing his time into buying players not chatting away with the bbc’s version of the muppet characters ’stadler and waldorf’
i’ve also been told villa are also looking at lennon ,for god sake no he can’t even cross the road net alone a ball
Kightly is better than Lennon and Bentley, and we signed him for less than Bentley’s weekly wage.
If there was a bidding war and the price goes over £15 mill then Villa can have him. Tottenham hav other positions that need filling more than RW. Bentley isnt a priority. A GK, back up CB and DM are the 3 positions that need real quality injected into it. Bentley would b a signing that i would welcome but it isnt exactly a priority.
ohh yh knightly is better that bentley why isnt he in the england squad then don b silly
i’ve heard we are looking at lennon, we will probably put a token bid in for george harrison too i imagine
Calling all fellow Wolves anoraks, am I right in thinking David Bentley asked Glen Hoddle to bring him to the Mol from the Arsenal on a free? or is this another of my elderly moments?
i hope u do sign bentley class player and with barry leaving for liverpool u could do with a world class player and y would bentley want to be a dingle and play championship football
Bentley would be a massive coup for Villa and I think we should (for once) be prepared to pay over the odds for him. It would, at the very least, give other potential targets the right idea about where we’re going as a club.
Bentley is a decent player on his day he is a excellent player he just needs to be more consistant to take his game to the next level.
3..As for Kightly being better than both Lennon and Bently are you having a laugh
Sorry Baggie Boy, where did your winger disappear off to? The mighty Fulham was it??
Bentley is a waste of space, not got the space and crossing ability to make it at the top level.
Enjoy your opening day at the Emirates, my money is on 6-0 to Arsenal, Van Persie hat-trick.
7.spot on mate but we coudnt pay his wages
11 What zoltan gera (who’s correct position is a striker by the way not a winger)has to do with this I have no idea. To be honest could not give a monkeys what you think you are lower league football that does not concern the the top flight boys. What would you have given to even be in a chance with being stuffed by Arsenal but once again your team let you down. Have a great season in 2nd tier of football. Roll on your defeat to Doncaster and once agin we will hear the cries of Muppet Mick out!!!
13 Since when was Gera a striker? I have certainly never seen him playing upfront??
If I were you I’d wait and see who you sign before mouthing off, you were the best of a bad bunch in the Championship last year but that doesn’t mean you are ready to compete in the Premiership. Having a 37 year old goalie and a 34 year old striker as the core of your team should not strike you with any kind of confidence.
Our team is built around young inexperienced players who are inconsistent and hence our up and down season. What you would give to have any players of the value of Hennessey, SEB or Kightly in your squad, name one player of any value in your team? None, they all left last season after your Wembley defeat leaving you with a team of old players that have no chance of improving and keeping you up. Enjoy being on top whilst it lasts, the natural order of the Black Country will soon be restored.
Wolves will never eclipse the Albion so dream on, as for Villa I just cant wait for the first signings which i’m sure will be next week when Robbo and Sid sign, then expect 4 more on top in next 2 weeks and you never know Bently might be one of them (here’s hoping), up the villa!!!
I aint mouthing off!! your the one puffing your chest out Gera is a striker for his country!!!!
Value
Hennessy = NOTHING DONT RATE HIM
Seb = We have as good if not better in bedner and Miller
Kightly = good player not the finished article will not be at Wolves when you dont get promoted next season.
Brunt 3 million(paid)
Koren
Miller (linked with a 5 million move)
Tex
Bednar
do you wish me to continue
Think your clutching at straws with the age thing and core of our team they are squad players
Anyway your boring me now with your stupid strutting! this is a football forum not a “my daddies bigger than your daddie alpha male rubbish!!!!..
BACK TO FOOTBALL POST….
Reading the above report if its a straight choice between Villa and Spurs I would think Bently would choose the bright lights of London.
Oneil has had a 15m bid turned down (so the press say) yet Spurs have offered 7m plus Lennon do they really think Lennon is worth 8M????
Why has this turned into a “who is the second biggest club in the West Midlands?” debate. If Bentley chooses to battle with 200 other midfielders at Spurzzzz as he no doubt will then that is his prerogative, I’m surprised that MON is interested, as he(Bentley) clearly thinks he’s better than he actually is. Lennon is an unpolished gem in my opinion and MON would get the best out of him. He and Ash raiding down the flanks, sounds an exciting prospect to me.
Also Bob, if the Albion were ‘the best of a bad bunch’ as you put it, what does that make you lot??
As i have said many times i will not give an albion prediction until transfers are all completed but if you dont sign any top class players, then im affraid im more confiden of wolves going up than albion staying up (and im not that confident about the wolves)
Baggie Boy, Gera isn’t a striker. He’s played on the wing for us or as a central attacking midfielder for Hungary. He can no doubt cover up front but its not his natural position. I think you Villa fans are wrong to rubbish Kightly. If he’s not so good as Bentley yet he will be given a little time and he would cost a fraction of the 15/20 million Bentley will cost.