Stoke City are making a swap offer for Aston Villa striker Darren Bent.

The Daily Mail says Potters boss Tony Pulis needs to offload a frontman before he can bring in the England international and he has offered Trinidadian striker Kenwyne Jones as part of a £10million package.

England international Bent has started just seven Premier League games this season with Villa boss Paul Lambert preferring to use Christian Benteke as a lone striker.

Bent's £75,000-a-week wage demands could prove a stumbling block but with both Villa and the 28-year-old keen to part ways a deal could be forced through before the transfer window shuts tonight.