Toon lead £5m race for Bent

ASTON VILLA are ready to ship out misfit Darren Bent for £5million.

Newcastle, Hull and Fulham are all poised to make a move for the striker — but the Toon are in pole position.

Villa did want £8million for the England ace, who cost a club-record £24m when he signed from Sunderland in January 2011.

But they are set to slash £3m off the asking price just to get £65,000-a-week Bent off the books.

Boss Paul Lambert left him on the sidelines last season in favour of Christian Benteke and has made it clear the 29-year-old is not part of his plans.

The hitman is out of the squad that will be touring Germany this week.

Bent’s advisors are set to meet Villa bosses this week for talks — and the club are willing to compromise over the wage bill down.