Race for Bent hots up

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England frontman Bent was set to travel to Beijing with Spurs earlier this week but disembarked the plane when it became apparent Sunderland were interested in him.

Sunderland were expected to announce his arrival but Hull and Villa are willing to match Spurs' £14million valuation of the striker they bought from Charlton two seasons ago. Chairman Daniel Levy will now decide which bid to accept.

Bent was Harry Redknapp's top scorer last season but was also out of favour at times and behind Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane in the pecking order at White Hart Lane.

Peter Crouch's arrival, from Portsmouth for £9million on Monday, paved the way for Bent's departure.

Redknapp, who is in China with Spurs for the Barclays Asia Trophy, is delighted with the options he now has in attack.

"(Crouch) has joined the club. He has had a medical and everything was fine," said Redknapp.

"We now have four strikers as it looks like Darren Bent could move. I believe he is close to doing a deal with Sunderland.

"He gives us a bit of a different option. We now have four top strikers which is what you need at every club and so I am delighted to have Crouchy. He is different to almost anyone else in the league in terms of his size and the way he plays the game, so I am pleased to have him.

"With him, Robbie (Keane) Jermain Defoe and (Roman) Pavlyuchenko we have a good strikeforce."