New Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has said that he expects Darren Bent to be an Aston Villa player at the start of the new season. He, however, has suggested that the former Blackburn defender Stephen Warnock could be sold in the summer in order to raise transfer funds for the arrival of new players.
The former Tottenham striker has been out of the first team action for a few months now after suffering a major injury prior to the close of the last season. He is expected to return to pre-season training soon enough. Lambert has confirmed that Darren Bent remains central to his plans at Aston Villa.
The 27-year-old Darren Bent has been one of the shining players for Aston Villa in the last couple of seasons. Since the departure of Martin O’Neill, the club has failed to reproduce the form that has seen them make European football. However, Darren Bent has helped them stay afloat in the Premier league, but it is thought that he would be willing to search for new pastures in order to have the possibility of winning trophies. In place of Steven Warnock, Paul Lambert is likely to use Ciaran Clark. The 22-year-old has received glowing praise from the new manager.
“I remember saying at the time Bent being out injured will be a blow for Aston Villa because he can score. When Darren was injured, I think the team struggled to get a goal. He’s a goal-scorer, which every club needs. If you’ve got people who can score then that’s half the battle and he can certainly do that,” said Paul Lambert. Aston Villa recently resigned goalkeeper Brad Guzan after leaving the American International to leave the club on a free transfer at the last season. The goalkeeper has signed a new three-year deal with the club.