Darren Bent is not about to be sold in the January transfer window says Aston Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner.
There have been rumours that Villa were set to cash-in on the England striker just as they did with Ashley Young and Stewart Downing in the summer following the sales of James Milner and Gareth Barry but Faulkner has rubbished those claims saying that the 27-year was not going anywhere.
"We will keep Darren Bent, plain and simple," he said. "I'd not even thought about it - maybe that gives an indication of the club's mentality.
"I am very confident we can keep players at Aston Villa.
"With Gareth Barry, Liverpool came along with a large bid and we turned it down.
"Lo and behold Gareth stayed another year and played very well. I don't know many other clubs who've done that with their leading player in previous years.
"If someone comes in and says they're going to double or treble your money - Manchester City have been able to do that with a couple of players - that's always going to make it hard.
"Last year we signed Gabby Agbonlahor on a new five-year deal. Every situation is different. We have aims and ambitions, if players see that and want to be part of it then fantastic."
