Bentley cashes in as Blackburn move to tie up their prize asset

Former Arsenal youngster Bentley, 23, still has three years left to run on his current £20,000-a-week contract at Ewood Park.

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But his impressive form this season and elevation to Fabio Capello's England team has already sparked interest in the player from Newcastle.

Blackburn are bracing themselves to receive serious bids for the man being billed as David Beckham's long-term replacement for England at the end of the season.

And Rovers boss Mark Hughes and chairman John Williams are keen to move quickly to reward Bentley for his progress at Ewood Park.

Hughes said: "We're talking to a number of players and David is one of them.

"We are still talking, but I'm not exactly sure where we are up to. David has been away this week, but I know there is dialogue between both parties."

Hughes is optimistic both Steven Reid and Andre Ooijer will be fit to face Arsenal on Monday night.

With four senior first-team regulars already missing for the daunting trip to the Emirates Stadium, Hughes' threadbare resources were in danger of being stretched to the limit when Reid and Ooijer both pulled out of international duty with injuries earlier this week.

However, the Rovers boss has allayed fears that both men will join a list of absentees that already includes Chris Samba, Morten Gamst Pedersen and David Dunn, who are all suspended, and skipper Ryan Nelsen, who is still hampered by a hamstring problem.

He said: "We hope they will both be okay. Andre and Steve both turned up for international duty and got assessed by their associations' medical people.

"Andre has issues with his hamstring, but they had a general chat and came to a sensible decision. And likewise, with the Irish FA. Steve has a bit of fluid on his knee, which he sometimes gets, and we now have the chance to take the fluid out."

Hughes is also sweating on the availability of Matt Derbyshire because his partner is due to give birth to twins any day.