Liverpool plan Bent raid

Liverpool are planning a shock raid for England and Aston Villa striker Darren Bent in the January transfer window.

Kenny Dalglish will test Villa's resolve with a £24million bid in the coming weeks as the Anfield boss looks to add firepower for the second half of the season.

The move would give Bent the chance to reunite with former Villa team-mate Stewart Downing and would boost his England chances, too, according to the Sunday Mirror.

Bent scored in the surprise 3-1 victory over Chelsea on Saturday, his seventh strike of what has been a below-par season for the former Sunderland, Tottenham and Charlton forward.

Alex McLeish has stated that the club will do all they can to keep hold of their star striker, but they may find it difficult to stop Bent from leaving should Liverpool come knocking.

The Villa manager has been told he has little or no money to spend in the current  transfer window and will have to generate his own funds.

One option available to him would be to offload Bent and pick up three or four players with the proceeds.

But, whatever McLeish ends up doing, it seems the manager wants his England striker to stay put.

"It would be very difficult for me to replace a striker of Darren's quality," said McLeish.

"His goals last season were a vital part of keeping this club in the division."

Source: Daily Mail

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