Darren Bent has backed Tottenham Hotspur to 'comfortably' edge out Manchester United for Aston Villa playmaker Jack Grealish.

For a number of months, United have been strongly linked with an approach for the Englishman, who could cost in excess of £60m.

However, Bent, a former player of both Spurs and Villa, feels that the 24-year-old is more likely to move to North London than Old Trafford.

Speaking to Football Insider, Bent said: "It's definitely in the price tag that Villa are going to want for him but you look at Spurs – a young, English, brilliant signing.

"When you look at teams that are also in for Jack, there's a lot of talk about Manchester United and I think where Spurs might have the edge is they're going to have the funds to do it.

"They're not really linked with anybody else and I think they can get that done, relatively, quite comfortably."

Grealish has contributed seven goals and six assists from 26 games in the Premier League this season.