OK, I’m kidding, it’s pretty far from a secret. In fact it’s everywhere and I must be the last person to find out. Ironically, I checked all the latest news just minutes before this one broke and then went off the grid. I came back and all hell is breaking loose!

This is a story that will evolve as the day goes on so I’ll continue to update this post as we learn more, but at the moment it would appear the rumours that emerged before the weekend of a statement of intent style bid being submitted for a big name, but unknown striker were absolutely on the money.

The bid appears to be £18m (possibly rising with add-ons) and the striker is Darren Bent. He has handed in a written transfer request which will leave Sunderland little option but to accept our bid, although it may well suit them in any case.

This is where the rumour mill kicks in; Bent may or may not be about to have a medical at Bodymoor, but clearly top gear has been engaged and something will happen sooner rather than later.

There is talk of the deal being partially financed by either or both of Stewart Downing and Ashley Young heading for the exit door, but it’s nothing more than that at this stage.

Inevitably, this also causes speculation about other players making moves as the money is injected into the market the chain of events reliant on one another will be sparked into action. Will Danny Wellbeck’s loan from Man Utd become permanent for instance? Well, that question has the Utd fans chattering.

Incidentally, the Blues have coincidentally just announced that they have ended their interest in Robbie Keane.

The January transfer market touch paper looks to have been ignited in some fine style.

More to follow later, but I’ve updated the Aston Twitter page to monitor the relevant chatter on Twitter for your amusement. And mine actually.

Some Links

After submitting a transfer request two hours after the end of yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle United at the Stadium of Light, Bent is waiting for the green light to travel to the West Midlands. Louise Taylor, The Guardian

“The club can confirm that it received a written transfer from Darren Bent following yesterday’s Wear-Tyne derby match.” Club officials would not comment further on the striker’s future. The Telegraph

Bruce is understood to have been shocked both by the transfer request and the amount Villa were prepared to pay, and was taking time out to reflect – and walk his dogs on the beach – before releasing an official comment on the situation. Harry Harris, ESPN Soccernet

It is for those reasons, and not his enviable statistics, that at first glance the £18 million that Villa are prepared to immediately part with seems high – fantastical even – in a market climate that priced Rafael van der Vaart at £8 million in the summer. But it is a calculated gamble by Aston Villa, if a high-stakes one. Tom Adams, ESPN Soccernet

Furthermore, it is understood that they would not even consider doing business for a man who cost them an initial £10million in August 2009 unless any offer significantly exceeded the £20million mark. Yahoo! Eurosport