Aston Villa say it is "disappointing" Sunderland have tried to "besmirch the reputation" of Darren Bent after his move to Villa Park.
The England international finalised an £18million move to Villa on Tuesday, just 24 hours after news of his likely departure from the Stadium of Light had emerged into the national arena.
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce claimed Bent had been unsettled and Quinn has revealed he feared three weeks ago that the 26-year-old had his mind elsewhere.
But Villa have issued a strongly-worded statement stressing that there had been no "inappropriate approach" to the player.
