Bent a bargain, says McAllister

Aston Villa’s Gary McAllister believes the transfer window’s excessive spending proves Darren Bent’s 24 million-pound outlay is good value.

Andy Carroll moved to Liverpool for 35 million pounds while Fernando Torres left Anfield to join Chelsea for 50 million.

Given those big-money English Premier League moves, Villa assistant manager McAllister believes Bent’s signing from Sunderland is a bargain.

“Maybe five or six years ago you would have called us all crazy if we were bandying these numbers about,” said the former Liverpool midfielder.

“But that is the going rate and market forces dictate the price. We did our business nice and early in the window and when you see the prices at the back end of the transfer window, it looks like a good buy, especially with the 35 million and 50 million moves.”

“He is proven in the Premier League, he has been in and around it a long time and he is a natural goalscorer.”

Fulham’s visit to Villa Park gives Bent another opportunity to get on the scoresheet after scoring two goals from three games, but Luke Young – who has missed a large chunk of the season – continues to be absent.

“We’ve looked down most avenues,” said McAllister.

“It is very frustrating for the guy. There are days he’s come and he feels fine and he trains like a young lad at 17 and the following day he has a reaction.”

“It is a really frustrating for him at the moment because we have been down most avenues with specialists and scans and injections. It might just be he needs a week away from all the treatment and just see if it settles that way. But it is frustrating for the guy because he wants to play.”