Derby County are interested in Aston Villa striker Darren Bent.

The Daily Mail says Derby have expressed an interest in Bent, with Steve McClaren hoping to take him on loan until the end of the season and end his Villans career for good.

The 30-year-old striker has been on loan at Championship strugglers Brighton & Hove Albion where he scored two goals in five games.

Bent is paid £65,000 a week by Villa but Derby would only contribute a fraction of that. Brighton paid around £20,000 of his wages but the Rams would look to reduce that even further.