But a number of other Premier League clubs are monitoring the striker's position and hoping to capitalise on the chance to sign him for a cut-price fee.
Fulham, Crystal Palace and Hull City are among the clubs interested in recruiting the former England international who has been told that he can leave Villa this summer.
Bent cost Villa a club-record £18m, rising to £24m with add-ons, when they signed him from Sunderland in 2011, but he was a peripheral figure last season, starting only 12 matches in all competitions.
He has two years remaining on his contract and has a prolific goalscoring record in the Premier League but his age – he turned 29 in February – means Villa may well need to reduce their £8m asking price.
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