Aston Villa’s £18m, untrailed acquisition of England international striker Darren Bent from EPL rivals Sunderland looks likely to be the signature signing of this January’s transfer window.

The move paid immediate dividends when Bent notched Villa’s winner with virtually his first touch in last Saturday evening’s win over big-spending Manchester City, outshining City’s own recent big-money striker signing, Edin Dzeko.

Villa completed two-wins-in-a-row this midweek when they won at struggling Wigan Athletic this midweek.

 

And their transfer market activity continues apace as they enter talks with arch-rivals Birmingham City over a swap deal involving central defender Curtis Davies and Blues influential midfielder Sebastian Larsson.

However, Villa’s revival hasn’t persuaded frontman Ashley Young to be any more forthcoming about his future at the club.

Bent also scored on his Sunderland debut. And after his 18^th-minute strike overcame City, Villa boss Gerard Houllier hailed him as a “natural-born finisher, adding: “I thought the boy handled the pressure very well.”

And the Frenchman praised his team’s attitude as Gabriel Agbonlahor and Young, from the penalty spot, clinched a 2-1 victory at the DW Stadium. He said: “On the back of the Manchester City performance I thought we would be flat physically.

“But in fairness to the boys, I think they responded extremely well and kept focused and determined.”

Striker John Carew has effectively made way for Bent, joining Stoke City on-loan until the end of the season, having also undergone a medical at Villa’s local rivals West Bromwich Albion.

Meanwhile, Davies could be on his way to Birmingham City in a deal which would take Blues midfielder Larsson to Villa Park.

Davies looked set to join Championship side Leicester City on-loan for the second time this season and ‘tweeted’ earlier in the week that he was “off to Leicester to rejoin Sven’s revolution.” Former England supremo Sven Goran-Eriksson is Leicester’s current boss.

But Birmingham, who had offered £3.5m for Davies, now look willing to pay £1.5m and include Houllier target Larsson, who is out of contract in the summer, in the deal.

Young refused to be drawn on news that he is on Liverpool’s current transfer-window wish-list, when asked in the wake of the Wigan victory.

He preferred to praise manager Houllier for having “done superb” by bringing in great signings such as Bent, who has “boosted everyone.”

Villa host Blackburn Rovers this Saturday lunchtime in the fourth round of the FA Cup.