Barclays Premier League newcomers Crystal Palace are now the surprise leaders in the race to sign striker Darren Bent, according to
the Mirror. Bent, 29,
has made no secret of the fact that he wants to leave Aston Villa where he has found opportunities limited, but interest so far has only come from Fulham and Newcastle United. Villa themselves have already rejected three advances from the Cottagers for his services, while Newcastle Director of Football Joe Kinnear is looking at the forward as he attempts to bolster their attacking options. However, sources close to the player suggest he would prefer a move back to London - having played for Charlton Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur in the not to distant past - and would not rule out joining Palace particularly as he hails from that part of the capital. His current employers have reportedly set a
£6 million asking price for a man who has netted 102 goals in the top flight. It is thought that Bent himself wants to be playing regular first team football in a bid to force himself back into reckoning for England ahead of the 2014 World Cup, having not features on the international stage since 2011. Crystal Palace boss Ian Holloway has already taken steps to strengthen his side ahead of the new season, with the reported sixth month loan
signing of unwanted Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh. But the Selhurst Park based club are lining up other targets and Bent seemingly fits the bill as they prepare for their first match in the top division since 2005. Palace co-chairman Steve Parish did not shy away in revealing his interest while speaking on Sky Sports' Transfer Centre yesterday. He said: "Darren's a fantastic player isn't he? I think that you know there's a number of players that we are looking at. What is fantastic for our football club is to be linked with the kind of players that we are being linked with."