Paul Ince has confirmed that Aston Villa have submitted a bid for David Bentley, but insists he hopes to persuade the England winger to stay at Ewood Park.
“There’s been an offer from Villa. But that’s as far as it goes,” Ince told Sky Sports News.
“He was due to play tonight (in Balckburn’s pre-season friendly game against Macclesfield) but he got a knock in his calf and we decided to give him a couple of days to get ready for Germany.
“That’s the idea (to keep him), I want to keep hold of all my players and David Bentley is no different.”
Bentley is just one of a number of Blackburn players linked with a move away from the club, with goalkeeper Brad Friedel and striker Roque Santa Cruz also reportedly the subject of offers.
“When I first came to Blackburn I said I wanted to keep my best players and Brad’s definitely one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League,” added Ince.
“I want to keep Brad and as that’s the case, why would I be linked with Paul Robinson?
“I understand in the Premiership you’ll always be linked with players coming and going. But as I said before, people like Brad and Bentley and (Roque) Santa Cruz I want to keep.”
