Blackburn boss Paul Ince has revealed that Aston Villa have lodged an offer for midfielder David Bentley.

The England international missed Blackburn's pre-season victory at Macclesfield on Monday because of a calf problem picked up in training.

Ince's first game in charge since he took over at Blackburn saw his side beat Macclesfield - the club where he started his managerial career - 2-1 with goals from David Dunn and Paul Gallagher.

Bentley has made it clear that he wants to leave Blackburn and has also been linked Tottenham, who Ince says are yet to make an approach.

"We have had an offer from Aston Villa, but I do not want him to go," he said.

"But he is injured and he will have a couple of days off and I hope to take him to Germany on Wednesday for our training trip."

Bentley's current deal runs until 2011 and he is expected to cost bidding clubs around £17million.

"The David Bentley situation will not go away and only time will tell whether he is here in August," added Ince.

"He would have played here tonight if he had not been injured, but I know that in football players come and players go."

Tottenham and Liverpool have also shown an interest in the 23-year-old.