Peter Withe: 'Aston Villa should sell Darren Bent'

Aston Villa legend Peter Withe has said that it would benefit all parties if the club sold Darren Bent this summer.

Manager Paul Lambert is reportedly willing to part company with Villa's record signing for a fee in the region of £8m.

Withe, who scored 74 goals in 182 appearances for Villa during the 1980s, believes that the 29-year-old, who moved to Villa Park in January 2011 and has two years to run on his current contract, needs a new challenge.

"When he was signed for big money, Villa didn't have anyone to score goals, so he was the focal point in the team," Withe told the Birmingham Mail. "All of a sudden in football different managers have different ideas about players and he's maybe not seen as an integral part by Paul Lambert.

"When you go from being the main goalscorer to being on the bench, it has an effect on you mentally. There is loads of speculation about the transfer fee and all that but at the end of the day it's about you getting into the team and performing.

"If that is not going to happen with Darren Bent at Villa any longer, for whatever reason, then it is probably best for him and the club if he does move on and seek a new challenge."

Bent married Kirsty Maclaren, who is the former fiancee of Liam Ridgewell, earlier this month.

The newly-wed couple are currently honeymooning in Barbados.