The reason is his game to me just doesn't suit Villa at all. He gets the ball on the right and clips deliveries into the box, his game isn't much more than that. That's okay for Stoke or even would be for Villa if we had a in form Carew but we don't. Bent/Gabby aren't going to thrive off balls hung up in the air into the box, where as Stoke with K.Jones etc...that's extremely useful for them. There's no extra quality, he doesn't really go past players, doesn't score many, doesn't really come inside and create. Suited to Stoke, not Villa.
Bent is decent in the air tbf as is Gabby. The ball doesnt necessarily have to be flighted when its delivered.