Norwich City winger Elliott Bennett may extend loan spell with fellow Championship outfit Brighton
Elliott Bennett may be spending more time away from Carrow Road. Picture: RICHARD CALVER/FOCUS IMAGES - Credit: Richard Calver/Focus Images Ltd
Brighton are hoping to extend the loan of Norwich City winger Elliott Bennett for another month.
The 25-year-old moved to Carrow Road from Brighton in 2011, but was allowed to return to Sussex on loan earlier this month after falling out of favour at Carrow Road.
That loan spells ends on Saturday, but Brighton manager Sami Hyypia wants to keep him until the new year.
'We are trying to extend Elliott's loan, because I really like him as a character as well as a player,' he said.
'He can help the team to be better. I would very much like to extend his stay.
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'I am quite optimistic that it will happen. He wants to stay as well. I'm pretty sure that we can make a deal with everyone that he can stay here. I think we are talking about one month more.'
Hyypia completed one loan deal yesterday when he signed Aston Villa striker Darren Bent.
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The 30-year-old former England international, who cost Villa £18m from Sunderland in 2011, has agreed an initial one-month spell with the Seagulls after falling out of favour at Villa Park.
He could make his debut on Saturday against Fulham, the club where he spent last season on loan.
Hyypia said: 'We are delighted to welcome Darren to the club, and I hope he will score plenty of goals for us during his time with us.
'His record speaks for itself. He is a top-class striker with more than 100 Premier League goals with Charlton, Spurs, Sunderland and Aston Villa.
'Three years ago he was a regular in the England squad under Fabio Capello; there is no doubting his ability to score goals.
'He also wants to play regular games and that is evident in his willingness to step down from the Premier League to the Championship.'
Bent has made eight appearances for Villa this season but failed to score – his last game was on Monday when he came on during the 1-1 draw against Southampton.
