STEVE BRUCE TO MOVE FOR NEWCASTLE TARGET DARREN BENT

ABOVE: Steve Bruce is keen to hook up with Darren Bent, whom he signed while in charge at Sunderland

Hull certainly wouldn’t baulk at meeting Villa’s asking price for Darren

A source

17th June 2013

By Michael Morgan

STEVE BRUCE is planning to hijack Newcastle’s move for Aston Villa outcast Darren Bent.

Hull boss Bruce has been linked with Celtic’s Gary Hooper, Burnley’s Charlie Austin, Wigan star Arouna Kone and Reading’s Adam Le Fondre.
Villa, who splashed out £24m to sign former England striker Bent from Sunderland just 29 months ago, now want only £6m to get him off their books.
But the Geordies are reluctant to pay that amount for the 29-year-old because they fear he will have no resale value.

Bent’s £70,000-a-week wage demands are also a sticking point for Newcastle – and Hull would also expect him to take a pay cut.
But a source said: “Hull certainly wouldn’t baulk at meeting Villa’s asking price for Darren.
“When Steve Bruce was appointed Sunderland boss four years ago he made Bent his first signing and he rates him very highly.”