Darren Bent

Hatch99

West Ham United and Spurs are at the centre of a battle to sign Charlton's £17m-rated striker Darren Bent.
The Hammers were reported to be close to clinching a deal for the 23-year-old England star after offering him a five-year deal worth £75,000-a-week.

But Spurs are now understood to have entered the race by making an undisclosed offer for Bent.

West Ham boss Alan Curbishley has offered midfield man Hayden Mullins to Charlton in a bid to clinch the move.

Liverpool were also interested in Bent, but have not been able to compete with the financial firepower on offer at other clubs.

Bent was reported to be returning from holiday on Thursday to undergo a medical and complete a move to West Ham.

Spurs, however, have clearly not given up hope of landing Bent.

If Bent decided to join West Ham, he will rejoin Curbishley, who spent £2.75m to bring the striker to Charlton from Ipswich two years ago.

And he would join another ex-Charlton star at Upton Park after Scott Parker moved to West Ham from Newcastle in a £7m deal earlier this month.

Ipswich have a clause guarenteeing them 20% of any profit Charlton make by selling Bent, a deal which could net the Tractor Boys about £3m.

RuggieBear

insane money.

therecklessone

Agreed Ruggie, absolutely crazy money to pay for him.

Let the Bingo Club throw 75k a week at him, make it all the funnier when they join Leeds in League 1 in 5 years.

yiddo

crazy money. hopefully whams 75k a week will sway him towards them. good player and all that but ffs its crazy money.

galinka

£75k - that's 3 times what Berbatov was on this season. I dont rate him and would lose no sleep if he signed for Spammers.

yiddo

Rumours on COYS and FTL that Bent is ours but won't be announced til 1st July! Sky saying that he's turned down the bingo boys!

therecklessone

I'm genuinely surprised, it can't have been a money issue cos the Bingo Club are throwing stupid money at everyone...maybe he thinks he's got a better chance of success at WHL?