Filed under: Aston Villa, Sunderland, Tottenham, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
Gerard Houllier is set to smash Aston Villa's transfer record with an unexpected £24 million swoop for Sunderland forward Darren Bent, in a clearest indication yet that he has the full backing of owner Randy Lerner.Houllier has been provided the funds to launch a big money move to sign the England international and the deal could even be completed by Tuesday.
The Aston Villa manager is battling to avoid relegation from the Premier League and has come under heavy criticism from supporters after a dismal run of only one win in the last ten matches.
He has been frantically targeting a proven forward to fire Villa away from trouble and has made signing Bent, 26, his top priority this month after extensive transfer talks with Lerner last week.
Lerner has already spent £6 million on Lyon midfielder Jean Makoun this month and appears determined to help Houllier buy his way out of trouble.
The deal will smash their previous transfer record of £12 million for James Milner and leave Steve Bruce, the Sunderland manager, with a major headache.
Sunderland paid out an initial £10 million for Bent 18 months ago but it is understood Bruce is under pressure to make one big sale this month to ease debts.
Villa's move for Bent is the clearest sign yet that Lerner is determined to keep the faith with Houllier. There have been increasing calls for Houllier to be dismissed recently, ironically at their loudest in the home game with Sunderland.
Emile Heskey and Stewart Downing are the club's joint top scorers with six goals, while Villa have only managed a measly total of 23 Premier League strikes this season.
Houllier was clearly irritated by Villa's failure to kill off rivals Birmingham on Sunday and has identified Bent as the forward to propel Villa away from the bottom three.
He said: "If you say: 'Are you looking for a striker?' I would say if the opportunity is there, yes, but you don't find them easily.
"Getting a striker itself is not a problem it is mainly the type of striker that you want. It depends on what's going to happen."
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/01/17/gerard-houllier-set-to-sign-darren-bent-in-stunning-move/
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