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Aston Villa are ready to sell Darren Bent in January as his feud with boss Paul Lambert deepens, writes The People.

Liverpool and QPR will be alerted to the availability of the England striker who has been dumped on the bench by his club and stripped of the captaincy. Villa will listen to offers in the transfer window for a player they paid £18million to Sunderland for 18 months ago. The deal rises to £24m with add-ons over the course of his contract.

Lambert made Bent captain at the start of the season but quickly handed the armband over to defender Ron Vlaar.

Bent was then axed for games against West Brom and Tottenham, and People Sport understands the 28-year-old will be allowed to leave if the right offer comes in.

Click here to read more stories from The People.

Bent’s Villa career looks all but over with Lambert bringing in Christian Benteke, 21, from Genk in the summer and he appears to be the preferred strike partner for Gabby Agbonlahor.

Villa owner Randy Lerner will look to recoup at least £12m for Bent, whose England career has also stuttered during his time in the Midlands.

QPR owner Tony Fernandes, a long-term admirer of Bent’s, could sanction a move in January. And Liverpool are also in desperate need of a goalscorer following an injury to Fabio Borini.

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