Paul Lambert press conference.

[Desi]

BBC Sport's Pat Murphy at the Aston Villa press conference reports that manager Paul Lambert says he has no plans to sell striker Darren Bent this month.

"I don't want to sell anybody and it would be daft to sell him to one of our rivals in the lower part of the table," says Lambert, who added that Bent, who resumes training today, will be back in contention once he has recovered from his hamstring injury, and he also plans to rest Christian Benteke soon.

However, Lambert wouldn't be drawn on speculation linking Villa with Joleon Lescott & Robbie Keane.

[kippaxvilla2]

Bent's off then.

[maigrait]

Yep so that means he's off to someone higher in the table...

[eastie]

Daft to sell him to a rival but equally daft not to have used more him considering his goalscoring record.

[Mazrim]

I doubt Bent is going anywhere until summer.

[citizenDJ]

I doubt Bent is going anywhere until summer.

He may yet have a part to play in all this [/Gandalf]

[pauliewalnuts]

I tend to believe him.

Also we're clearly interested in Keane and Lescott. Both of those would be excellent additions, and offer the "nous" we need.

[not3bad]

If he's saying he won't sell Bent and he also mentions he's going to rest Benteke soon does that not mean Bent will get another chance?

[kippaxvilla2]

Actually I'll rephrase and add a conspiracy theory.  Up until now no firm denials on Bent going or staying.  It was hoped that the team would be safe enough in the league by now for it not to matter if he left.

Cue panicking owner flying in for talks with manager and 'between them' decide on account of the fact we are in the shit not even we'd be daft enough to sell him.

Just a thought. 

[Risso]

I tend to believe him.

Also we're clearly interested in Keane and Lescott. Both of those would be excellent additions, and offer the "nous" we need.

If we could get those two and and the midfield equivalent, it would be big progress, although I'm not sure Keane is exacly what we need at present.

[pauliewalnuts]

I tend to believe him.

Also we're clearly interested in Keane and Lescott. Both of those would be excellent additions, and offer the "nous" we need.

If we could get those two and and the midfield equivalent, it would be big progress, although I'm not sure Keane is exacly what we need at present.

I'd take Keane mostly on the basis that he's a calmer, more experienced head, which would help in the dressing room. God knows what it's like trying to motivate a bunch of (relative) kids who've been trounced three times on the bounce.

Lescott would definitely be a clever move.

I imagine his wages will be a problem, though.

[PaulWinch again]

I'd take them both now, provided Keane is only on loan. We desperately need wise heads in this side and players the others can look too. We need a left back and a couple of midfielders in addition though.

[Stu]

I imagine his wages will be a problem, though.

Yep, it's precisely that reason why I can't see him coming to us.

[pauliewalnuts]

I imagine his wages will be a problem, though.

Yep, it's precisely that reason why I can't see him coming to us.

Well, he could negotiate some form of pay off from Man City, like Dunne did, to move on.

[Clampy]

You'd have thought that Lescott would be in a financial position where he could afford to take a drop in wages. He'll have to if he moves on anyway.