Fulham overtake Newcastle in the race to sign Bent

First Fulham were favourites and then Newcastle in the battle to sign Darren Bent from Aston Villa this summer, but original order has now been restored with the London club back at the head of the market.

Fulham have been backed into 10/11 to be Bent’s club at the end of the summer transfer window and the belief is that they have submitted an offer for the England striker.

Offers for Bent so far that have been rejected have been around the £5m mark and as much as Villa want to get their striker’s wages off their books, they are still holding out for a fee closer to their £8m valuation.

Newcastle are believed to have most recently offered £5m and the belief is that Fulham have surpassed this figure, even if they are still below Villa’s estimation.

Having previously played for Sunderland, Bent has experience of the Tyne-Wear area, but it is thought that the opportunity to return to London, where he was born, is his preferred option.

It is 13/10 that Bent joins Newcastle before September 1st.

With Alan Hutton also close to joining Real Mallorca, albeit on loan, Villa are keen to get their unwanted high earners off their salary list and the departure of Bent could be the moment that they step up their chase for a new creative midfielder to play off the striker.

Villa have already signed Aleksander Tonev and Leandro Bacuna, who could play in the hole, but both are arguably better suited to playing wide.

Hiroshi Kiyotake is one name that has been previously linked and Villa would have extra ammunition if allowing Bent to leave.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.