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Aston Villa are blocking Darren Bent from joining their relegation rivals this month.

Reading and QPR have expressed an interest in the striker, who has struggled to get into the Villa team.

Bent may have to wait until the end of the season to leave – unless any clubs further up the table bid this month.

Villa are in a relegation battle with Reading and QPR, while Fulham may also be deemed too close for comfort.

Clubs are reluctant to pay a big fee for 28-year-old Bent, who joined Villa for £24million, because Paul Lambert’s men may get relegated.

Then the club will be forced to let one of their ­highest earners leave for a cut-price fee.