A Bent deal?

  • by Matthew O'Greel
  • Thursday, 14th June 2007

West Ham United are set to pay an astonishing £16m for Charlton striker Darren Bent, according to reports.

It was confirmed late on Tuesday afternoon that the two clubs had thrashed out a record-breaking deal, after Tottenham - Bent's preferred destination - had pulled out of the race to sign the former Ipswich striker earlier in the day.

United's new-found financial clout proved too much for Spurs - who refused to bid higher than £12m - to compete with and bar the formalities of a medical, Bent is expected to be announced as a West Ham player.

Alan Curbishley is thought to be flying back to England in order to meet Bent after cutting short a family holiday.

As part of the deal West Ham are expected to let Hayden Mullins rejoin his former boss Alan Pardew at the Valley, making the deal worth around £18m in all given Mullins' £2m valuation.

Should the deal go ahead as expected Alan Curbishley will have spent some £42.5m on new players this year - whilst yet more signings are set to follow.

We're in the money: how Curbishley spent £42.5m in six months

6th January - Luis Boa Morte (£5m, Fulham)
8th January - Calum Davenport (£3m, Tottenham); Nigel Quashie (£2m, West Brom)
22nd January - Lucas Neill (£1.5m, Blackburn)
31st January - Matthew Upson (£6m, Birmingham)
6th June - Scott Parker (£7m, Newcastle)
14th June? - Darren Bent (£16m + px, Charlton)

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