Bent linked with Rams move

Championship promotion hopefuls Derby County are keen to take Darren Bent on loan from Aston Villa for the rest of the season, according to the Mail Online.

Having struggled at Villa under since the appointment of Paul Lambert as manager, the former England international recently spent a month on loan at Brighton and Hove Albion where he scored two goals in five appearances.

Since moving to the Midlands club in January 2011, he has made seventy-two appearances for them, scoring twenty-five goals though he spent the entire 2013/14 campaign with Fulham though was unable to prevent them from being relegated.

Managerless Crystal Palace have also been linked with a move for the former Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland man, but with Bent having played under Derby boss Steve McClaren for England, the Championship club, who are currently third in the divison, may have the edge in the race to secure his services.