Newcastle's Pardew reaffirms interest in Aston Villa striker

We told you yesterday that Fulham have - unexpectedly - started a bidding war for Darren Bent. Despite the London club's reported offer near £6 million, Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew remains confident that his club will end up with Bent when all is said and done. In search of a striker to bolster his club, Pardew has his eyes on Bent and French national Bafetimbi Gomis. Bent is apparently ready to begin talking to Newcastle this week, so it appears that the Tyneside club are the front-runners and that Pardew's confidence isn't misplaced.

In other Darren Bent news, it appears that West Bromwich Albion were at one point connected to the striker. The combination of high wages and a large transfer fee were too much for the Baggies, though, despite grandiose claims by their fans that the club is one of the best and biggest in England. Apparently if you finish above Aston Villa twice in the past 30 years you're above the dregs of the Villa bench.

Boy it's fun to troll Baggies fans.

More from 7500 To Holte:

• Fulham begins Bent bidding war
• Aston Villa Transfer Rumour Tracker
• Could someone want Ireland?
• Bannan holds up move to Blackburn
• Hutton stalls Mallorca move