Last updated: 18th July 2008
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.
"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.
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 30th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 13th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Arsenal |
| Saturday 20th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Fulham |
| Saturday 27th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 4th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Blackburn vs Man Utd |
| Saturday 18th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 25th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Blackburn vs Middlesbrough |
| Wednesday 29th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 1st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | West Brom vs Blackburn |
| Sunday 9th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Blackburn vs Chelsea |
| Saturday 15th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Sunderland |
| Sunday 23rd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Tottenham vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 29th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 6th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Liverpool |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 27th August | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Blackburn 4 - 1 Grimsby | |
| Saturday 23rd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 1 - 1 Hull | |
| Saturday 16th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Everton 2 - 3 Blackburn | |
| Saturday 9th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Blackburn 1 - 1 NAC | |
| Saturday 2nd August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Wolverhampton 4 - 2 Blackburn | |
| Wednesday 30th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Northwich 1 - 2 Blackburn | |
| Saturday 26th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Sporting 2 - 1 Blackburn | |
| Friday 25th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Benfica 2 - 3 Blackburn | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 2 | 6 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 2 | 6 |
| 3 | Blackburn Rovers | 2 | 4 |
| 4 | Hull City | 2 | 4 |
| 5 | Manchester United | 2 | 4 |
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