Mourinho eyeing ‘good’ fee for Sahin; Bent staying put

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has revealed that Nuri Sahin, who is currently on loan at Liverpool, will eventually be sold for a ‘good price’, Sky Sports understands.

Sahin, 24, has shown glimpses of sheer brilliance while on loan at Anfield this season, tallying three goals and three assists in all competitions for the Merseysiders in 2012-13.

The former Borussia Dortmund standout joined Madrid from Die Schwarzgelben for a transfer fee rumoured to be in the region of €10 million.

In all likelihood, Los Blancos will make a substantial profit when they decide to part ways with the Turkey international.

Furthermore, Mourinho believes that his loan spell at Liverpool will help and grow as a player, which will undoubtedly increase his worth to Real Madrid.

“Sahin belongs to Real Madrid and is on loan at Liverpool,” insisted Mourinho.

“That costs us nothing because Liverpool are paying for everything.

“He is young and playing in a league that will help him grow. We want to sell him one day and he will go for a very good price. We made no mistakes.”

Sahin made his fourth English Premier League start for Liverpool against Reading on Saturday, before being replaced by 20-year-old England international Jonjo Shelvey on 63 minutes.

Bent staying put

According to Sky Sports, Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has insisted that club-record signing Darren Bent, who joined Villa via Sunderland for a reported transfer fee of £18 million in January 2011, will not be leaving Villa Park in the January transfer window.

Since arriving in Birmingham, Bent has bagged 22 goals in 50 appearances for the Claret and Blue.

However, the arrival of Belgium international striker Christian Benteke, 21, from Belgian Pro League outfit K.R.C. Genk has fueled speculation that the 28-year-old England striker could leave Aston Villa when the transfer window re-opens in January.

Benteke started each of Belgium’s 2014 World Cup qualifying matches against Serbia and Scotland during the last international break, finding himself on the score-sheet on both occasions.

The 21-year-old joined Aston Villa for rumoured fee of £7 million following a sensational 2011-12 season with Racing Genk, and could be the perfect replacement for Darren Bent, should the striker pursue pastures new in the January transfer window.

At the moment, Villa are in 17th place in the Premier League, and they could use help at almost every position.

Selling Bent may not be at the top of Paul Lambert’s wishlist, but it probably should be since Benteke is ready to takeover as the club’s first-choice No. 9.

The funds Aston Villa would receive for Bent would allow Lambert to strengthen the squad, and potentially avoid relegation, which, in all honesty, is a fate that the Birmingham club may be heading towards.