Sunderland striker Darren Bent has handed in a transfer request and looks set to make a staggering £18million move to Aston Villa.
It is understood that Villa have made a bid of an initial £18million, which could eventually rise to £24million after add ons.
The Black Cats, who have not yet commented on the news, are believed not to have accepted it at this stage, but it is already looking almost certain that Bent will make the move to Villa Park.
The 29-year-old has scored 32 goals in 58 Premier League appearances for Sunderland since his £10million move from Tottenham in 2009.
He scored his 11th goal of this season in last weekend's 2-1 FA Cup third-round defeat by Notts County, but has managed just two in his last nine games and drew a blank in Sunday's 1-1 derby draw with Newcastle.
He enjoyed a sensational first season on Wearside, scoring 25 goals, and Steve Bruce invested a club-record fee in excess of £13million to recruit Ghana international Asamoah Gyan to play alongside Bent in August last year.
That partnership now looks set to come to a premature end.
