Aston Villa are prepared to take a massive financial hit on the striker they signed from Sunderland for £24million just two years ago.
It is an open secret that he simply does not feature in Villa boss Paul Lambert’s plans.
But such has been the decline in the 29-year-old’s reputation that the news has barely caused a ripple of interest among other Premier League clubs.
And the fact that the former England striker is currently trousering £70,000 a week at Villa Park is hardly going to help Bent or Villa’s mission to get him a new club.
Martin Jol’s Fulham have made enquiries and they are reluctant to pay the £6m asking price, especially when the player’s wages are taken into consideration.