• Premier League

Bent's Villa move expected to go through on Tuesday

Darren Bent has been a prolific goalscorer throughout his career © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Bent agrees terms with Villa
  
• News: Bent set for £18 million Aston Villa move
  
• Profile: Darren Bent
ESPNsoccernet home

Darren Bent's £24 million whirlwind transfer to Aston Villa will be completed on Tuesday barring any last-minute hiccups according to ESPNsoccernet sources close to the shock Sunderland sale.

Bent is concluding personal terms after the £18 million transfer - rising to £24 million with add-ons - was agreed between the clubs, and on Sunday evening the player confirmed his desire to go by submitting a transfer request immediately after the derby game with Newcastle.

ESPNsoccernet's source close to the deal said on Monday night: "I cannot tell you the precise geographical location of Darren at this moment, but the player has been in talks with Aston Villa in the Midlands over personal terms and the transfer is progressing in the right direction.

"The terms of the deal between the clubs is agreed and I see no reason to suppose the deal won't go through very quickly."

While neither manager Steve Bruce nor Sunderland are happy, they will not stand in the player's way. Bruce confirmed the story to ESPNsoccernet and said: "I'm disappointed but that's the way it is."

A club statement on Monday afternoon read: "The club can confirm that it received a written transfer [request] from Darren Bent following yesterday's Wear-Tyne derby match."

Asked recently about the prospect of selling any of his star players, Bruce had said: "It would take crazy offers for me to consider anything. The ones who are out on loan are the ones where I would envisage there would be a bit of business to be done but, as for the big 'uns we have got, we have worked extremely hard, the chairman and the owner, to get the club in this situation, so the last thing you would want to be doing is dismantling it.

"It would take ridiculous money, absolutely, for us even to think about doing anything."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.