Bent deal is nearly done as Sunderland agree fee

Simon Johnson
3 Aug 2009

Darren Bent was at Sunderland's training ground today for a medical before he was expected to finally complete his protracted transfer from Tottenham.

The two clubs are understood to have agreed a deal worth £12m, which could rise to £13m with add-ons, and Bent has agreed a four-year contract.

The fee is a poor return for Spurs having paid Charlton a club record £16.5m for the England international in 2007 but he has failed to make an impact at White Hart Lane.

Chairman Daniel Levy was hopeful of recouping the full sum they had paid Charlton from Sunderland, but has had to concede defeat after the Wearsiders threatened to pull out of the deal.

Hull and Stoke were also interested in the 25-year-old, although he had made it clear that he only wanted to move to the Stadium of Light.

Bent voiced his frustration over Levy's handling of the transfer last week on website Twitter before being forced into making a public apology.

Manager Harry Redknapp had long since lost faith in Bent after a series of disappointing performances last season and has already signed a replacement, with Peter Crouch arriving from Portsmouth last week.

Sunderland have been interested in Bent since last summer and his arrival will take their spending in this close season beyond £20m after already buying Lorik Cana, Frazier Campbell and Paulo da Silva.

The Black Cats are also believed to be keen on buying Tottenham defender Michael Dawson and been linked with David Bentley, another Spurs flop.

Standard Sport understand that no bids for Bentley have been received this summer, although he is up for sale after making little impression following his £15m move from Blackburn last year.

Dawson, who is sidelined with an Achilles injury, is unlikely to be sold at this point, with Redknapp admitting both he and Jonathan Woodgate are set to miss the first few weeks of the season.

Woodgate has been troubled by a hernia problem for some time and is expected to have to undergo an operation to cure the injury.

Redknapp said: "I think he may have to have another hernia operation. He had one at the end of last season but it's obviously not worked so he may have to go back in again.

"I don't see Dawson or Woody being fit for the start of the season. It's going to be a bit difficult."

The Spurs boss is expected to solve his defensive worries by making a move for Newcastle defender Sebastien Bassong, and added: "We are still looking to improve the squad.

"If I can still get one or two in to make us strong, I will and if we can do that then it will be good."

The importance of new signings was exposed after the club suffered an embarrassing 2-0 pre-season friendly defeat to South China in Hong Kong yesterday.

Redknapp made it clear after the match that he is yet to receive any offers from Hull for right back Alan Hutton.

The Scottish international has struggled since joining from Rangers in January 2008 and is believed to be on the transfer list at White Hart Lane.

But Redknapp added: "I have never heard from Hull that they want Alan.

"He played in the first few games after I arrived injured from his injury before and he has never really recovered.

"Then he had an operation and he came back at the end of the season in good shape and he started this year in good nick.

"He showed good energy going forward against South China so I have no problems with Alan and have certainly not rejected any bid for him."

Hutton has started just 19 games in the Premier League in a Tottenham shirt and is expected to face a fight for his place following the arrival of Kyle Naughton from Sheffield United last month.