Villa defend approach made to Bent

ASTON VILLA yesterday strongly defended their conduct in the move that took Darren Bent from Sunderland to Villa Park. Bent’s switch to Villa was completed yesterday for an initial £18million three days after the striker put in a shock transfer request.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce yesterday claimed Bent had been unsettled and chairman Niall Quinn has revealed he feared three weeks ago that the 26-year-old had his mind elsewhere.

But Villa issued a strongly-worded statement today stressing that there had been no “inappropriate approach” to the player.