Newcastle United are eyeing Aston Villa outcast Darren Bent.

The Daily Mail says the Magpies are understood to be keen to take the England striker to the north-east in a cut-price move that will test the forward's desire to remain in the Premier League.

A fee of around £6m will be sufficient to secure the services of the 29-year-old forward who has played a bit-part at Villa Park under Paul Lambert.

But Bent's £70,000-a-week deal could prove a stumbling block to the deal progressing as Mike Ashley is reluctant to overpay.