O'Neill moves on from Bentley

Villa have no plans to make second bid for Rovers midfielder

Last updated: 18th July 2008

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Bentley: Interest from Villa

Martin O'Neill says Aston Villa have changed transfer targets after a bid for David Bentley was rejected.

Villa had been keen to sign Bentley from Blackburn Rovers, only for their Premier League rivals to spurn an offer.

Rovers boss Paul Ince revealed at the start of the week that Villa had registered an interest in the England midfielder.

O'Neill confirmed he had tried to sign Bentley, but has now switched his sights after failing to agree a deal.

Switched attentions

"I wouldn't normally respond to individual links, but as Paul Ince rightly said, we did make a bid for David Bentley," O'Neill told the club's official website.

"That was some time ago and Blackburn rejected the bid - as is their prerogative.

"We do not intend revisiting that and we have switched our attentions to other transfer targets."

Blackburn have rejected offers from two clubs for Bentley, with Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City also having been linked with bids.