Bruce 'devastated' by Bent transfer request

What the red tops say: January 18

The Sun

-Aston Villa will double their transfer record and smash their wage structure to land Darren Bent for £24million from Sunderland.

-Steve Bruce was left devastated as star striker Darren Bent slapped in a transfer request just two hours after the Tyne-Wear derby.

-Martin O'Neill last night KO'd West Ham's bid to make him their new manager.

-Steven Pienaar is on his way to Spurs - thanks to Darren Bent.

-Avram Grant showed he has no intention of quitting West Ham by preparing an audacious bid for Liverpool's Hammers old boy Joe Cole.

-Newcastle boss Alan Pardew admits he faces a battle to hang on to bad-boy midfielder Joey Barton.

-Tottenham's bid to take over the Olympic Stadium could be torpedoed by Crystal Palace.

-Arsene Wenger will gamble on Arsenal's FA Cup survival by resting his stars for tomorrow's third-round replay at Leeds United.

-New boss Chris Powell did not even apply for the Charlton manager's job - because he assumed they would be snowed under with top candidates.

-Eddie Howe hopes to be mentioned in the same breath as Owen Coyle at Burnley.

-Joe Hart's position as Manchester City's first-choice keeper is coming under threat with manager Roberto Mancini questioning his levels of concentration.

-Liverpool are lining up a move for £5million-rated West Brom winger Jerome Thomas.

-Patrice Evra believes the whole country is against Manchester United.

-Steve Kean insists he is in no rush to force El-Hadji Diouf through the Blackburn exit door.

Daily Mirror

-Martin O'Neill last night turned down West Ham - which could mean Avram Grant staying on as manager until the end of the season.

-Gerard Houllier has been told to increase his bid for Darren Bent to £20million-plus.

-West Brom's new skipper Chris Brunt admits Paul Scharner has upset team-mates by voicing concerns about discipline.

-Blackpool boss Ian Holloway has told Charlie Adam - and his team-mates - that they will not be sold this winter.

-Rafael van der Vaart has urged Holland team-mate Mark van Bommel to join him at Spurs.

-Roberto Mancini has warned Joe Hart he must keep his focus and improve his concentration if he wants to remain Manchester City and England no 1.

-Stoke star Ricardo Fuller has been forced to train with the club's youngsters after a bust-up with Tony Pulis over a new contract.

-Rookie Wojciech Szczesny last night insisted he is ready to be Arsenal's no 1.

-Aston Villa were always destined to toil after Martin O'Neil's abrupt exit - according to Gabriel Agbonlahor.

-Liverpool have made an official move for Ajax striker Luis Suarez.

-Fulham boss Mark Hughes is confident of signing Shaun Wright-Phillips in a cut-price £4million deal.

Daily Star

-Darren Bent is poised for a sensational £24million move to Aston Villa.

-Joe Hart has received a rocket from angry Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini.

-Patrice Evra isn't worried about Manchester United becoming the new 'invincibles' - as long as they set a brand new record of their own.

-Portsmouth boss Steve Cotterill wants Sunderland midfielder Andy Reid on loan.