Bentley set for new deal

9:10am Saturday 6th January 2007

Comments (0)   Have your say »

BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes is ready to open talks with David Bentley over a new contract in a bid to ward off interest from rival Premiership clubs.

Hughes had already planned to sit down and discuss a new deal with the 22-year-old before a story appeared in yesterday's national press linking the midfielder with a move to Manchester United.

Now the Rovers chief is ready to hand Bentley a bumper pay-rise as a reward for his progress over the last 12 months - even though the former Arsenal star still has two more years to run on his existing deal.

"David's done very well and we're looking to improve his situation here," said Hughes, whose side face Everton in the FA Cup tomorrow.

"In the coming weeks we'll sit down with him and hopefully get something sorted out in terms of an improved contract.

"He signed a deal 12 months ago but he wasn't established then.

"This year he's really come on, he's played really well, and he's played a lot more games over a sustained period."

Bentley has been one of Rovers' most consistent performers so far this season, and he's weighed in with a number of vital goals from midfield.

But Hughes believes he can still get even better, and he's keen to ensure he fulfils that potential with Blackburn rather than elsewhere.

"He played a decent amount of games last season and made a big impact in a number of them, notably the United game when he scored a hat-trick," said the Rovers boss.

"The important thing this year was that he continued to progress and I feel he's doing that.

"He's playing on a regular basis and I think that's helped, so he's just got to keep it going now.

"It's still early days for him but I've been very pleased with him.

"He's a young man with a lot of talent and he knows there's still a lot of work to be done.

"But I think he knows that we're the right place for him at this time in his career, and I certainly enjoy working with him."

Asked if Rovers had fielded an enquiry from United for Bentley, Hughes said: "Not that I'm aware of."