Home > Football > Spurs start their move on the top four with the capture of £16.5 Darren Bent

Spurs start their move on the top four with the capture of £16.5 Darren Bent

Watch out Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. Martin Jol has got things moving at White Hart Lane.

by Mark Apostolou on 29 June 2007

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Darren Bent: Record-breaking fee (gettyimages.com)

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Finally, after months of dithering, Darren Bent has completed his move from Charlton to Spurs for a fee of £16.5m.

Bent turned down a move to West Ham earlier this month and now the 23-year-old has passed a medical at White Hart Lane and is reported to be signing a six-year deal. The huge fee will be paid in instalments based on his appearances for Spurs.

Charlton were holding out for a fee that they considered worthy of a Premiership striker. Bent has scored 31 goals in 68 Premiership appearances, a record which is even more impressive considering Charlton's lowly status in the top tier.

'Given Bent's age and potential, the fee seems to me to be quite appropriate. He is a player with blistering pace and is sure to do well under Martin Jol's guidance'

No doubt Arsenal fans will make comparisons to the fee in relation to Thierry Henry's move to Barcelona, reported to be £16m. However, given Bent's age and potential, the fee seems to me to be quite appropriate. He is a player with blistering pace and is sure to do well under Martin Jol's guidance. The fee will break the Spurs transfer record, which has been something of an albatross around their neck given that it was previously held by Sergei Rebrov, who moved to North London for £11m and did very little to justify that fee.

The door is now open to a surfeit of rumours concerning the future of Jermain Defoe, who has been linked to many clubs, including Liverpool and Arsenal. There are also doubts as to how Spurs will deal with keeping three top strikers happy, as it is clear that Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane and Bent cannot all fit into the Spurs jigsaw. Maybe Keane and Bent will be happy to split the workload in what could be a heavy season given their qualification to another shot at the UEFA Cup. But it will give Jol more options and he will be able to rotate the three more often.

Whatever the ramifications it seems like sound business on the part of both clubs, and I am certain that come the end of the season Bent will again be featuring on the top scorers' lists. If he could do it with Charlton, there is no end to what he could do at Spurs.

Spurs fans should rejoice. This is another sign that things are on the up at the Lane.

Comments (19)

by joel cairo on June 29, 2007

This is a marginal improvement for a team that has no problem scoring goals. How much does he add that they don't already have from DaFoe, theBrbative Cocktail, Roy's little brother, etc. How will he make their porous defense less elaky than the Titanic? Seems like Spurs are running in place. Liverpool have nothing to fear in the run to 4th based on this.

by Bear on June 29, 2007

We will be looking to do well in four tough competitions, and will need at least three top strikers, ideally four. There will be plenty of games for Berbatov, Bent, Keane and Defoe. Mido is the useless one who will be kicked out now.

by magnumopus on June 29, 2007

Sorry dude but Liverpool has it's sights set on a higher position than 4th. Look again when the transfer window is closed before you decide,

by Mark (author) on June 29, 2007

Who said that Liverpool would be fourth? Is it in the article? i can't see it

by 4everaspur on June 29, 2007

Now we have 4 top strikers we must make sure they all play and maximise their potential.If things go well I could even see Bent and Defoe challenge Owen and crouch for a berth in the England starting 11.. not so far fetched as you may think.

by Joshua on June 29, 2007

We need now to finished up the business with Kaboul and also hopefully C Davies. Next,comes the "accessories".Reo Cocker for Murphy.Bentley or Dyer for Routledge (Little Lennon needs a break now & then. Some thinking on the left; Robben, that would be a real catch. Downing, though not a Ronaldo but proven above average EPL left winger with good assist record.We have been lacking in the good old fashion crosses from the wings. Pederson, over-rated in my opinion.Same class as Downing but with a perchant for the spectacular. Hope to have a perfect summer where Spurs is the talk of the town.

by 4everaspur on June 29, 2007

read your drivil ..why do you waste your time writng rubbish? you would be better off trying to get better educated. Then you may be able to get a better job than the one you are qualified for at the moment which is obviously meanial and boring.

by Spurrrfect on June 29, 2007

Unbelievable how the media try to influence and determine players'futures. All reports suggest that Defoe was third choice behind Berby and Robbie; but in fact he had more starts (just)and played more premiership minutes than Robbie. Reporters seem to forget tha Robbie was out injured for 6 weeks and also did not start the 06-07 season. This'll show alot of people what JD is made of and, if he stays, he'll knock in over 20 goals next season. If Berby suffers an injury Darren will fill his boots admirably and will be a more effective player than Mido ever was. I believe we're now in europe to stay; so let's go for the top. COYS

by Mike Rowe on June 29, 2007

Bent gives Spurs 4 quality strikers. We have a solid midfield and Robbie Keane could play behind Berbatov and Bent. The left has been strengthened and if we get Kaboul then we have extra cover at the back. The defense was leaky last season but lets not forget Ledley King was out for most of it and any team would miss his influence at the back. I say we are now capable of breaking the top four cartel and the other North London club look the most likely to be the victims COYS

by Jim on June 29, 2007

I think Bent will prove to be a massive hit at Spurs. He has pace to burn, can finish well and scored loads of goals in a struggling team. I would have liked him at Liverpool, but maybe we will nick Defoe from you guys instead now. Whats all this talk about Liverpool in 4th though?? I think Arsenal will be the team looking over their shoulders next season and I reckon Spurs will finish above them for the 1st time in a thousand years!!

by norman on June 29, 2007

17 million for an english player with unproven potential? What a joke, only a struggling club would pay that much. They call this a coup for spurs but we all know only West Ham and Spurs wanted him. Its a no wonder Wenger doesnt buy english players when you see those prices. I thought Defoe was the new Henry not so long ago? What happened to him?

by norman on June 29, 2007

by mctavish on June 29, 2007

bent is an average striker and spurs shouldnt hope 4 much!

by spurs 4 life on June 29, 2007

Some you are idiots.. his stats are better than defoes, keanes and his goal to minute ratio last season was beter than berbs.. the fees being payed over 3 years 5.5 a season thats good business!! WAKE UP

by Ivor Biggen on June 29, 2007

team in the premiership have the same class and the quality that spurs have now..Berbatov,Keane,Defoe,Bent thats scary..Now all Spurs need is to complete Kaboul deal and sign a left winger and add Riquelme (available on a free) into the squad as the play maker..Then we are definitely talking about a top 4 Spurs.

by COYS!!!! on June 29, 2007

absolute waste. no mattr how good he his, we don't need him, and its an embarrassing way to break a transfer record. £45k per week????? berba started on 22. left winger? defensive cover? basically i don't see how our strike force are going to score more than last year. after gaining some respect in the last two yrs we're gonna be alaughing stock again.

by COYS!!!dar on June 29, 2007

we sign another player into our stongest part of the field and you think we'll get better? absurd. there was NOTHING wrong with our fwds last year, 60+ goals between 3 remember????? no, where we lost was thru having no balance in midfield and a laky defence.neither of which have yet been sorted.

by Cockney Red on June 29, 2007

Looking at Spurs' squad for the coming season, it's already looking at least as strong as both Arsenal and Liverpool's (Berbatov, Keane, Defoe and Bent as options up front is frightening) - and I have a feeling that Spurs are nowhere near finished with their spending. Arsenal have the impossible task of replacing their best player and Liverpool seem to be spending all their budget on Torres - who is undoubtedly a very talented player but I'm not sure he's suited to teh PL and even if he is he's likely to need a good part of the season to adapt. If Tottenham continue in the same vein for another year or two then I can certainly see them replacing Arsenal as North London's best team, and I guess their fans deserve that really for sticking by them through some very lean times (made especially hard as they coincided with Wenger's brilliant Arsenal sides).