Sunderland keep an eye on Spurs striker Darren Bent

Mar 27 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

SUNDERLAND are continuing to monitor Darren Bent’s situation at Tottenham Hotspur ahead of a possible summer bid for the striker.

The Black Cats have been interested in the Spurs forward since last summer and, with Djibril Cissé’s long-term future at the Stadium of Light far from certain, the former Charlton star remains firmly on the radar.

The Journal understands Sunderland are continuing to watch the 25-year-old, despite having their interest rebuffed earlier in the season, as they believe Tottenham will look to move players on in the summer to allow manager Harry Redknapp to build his own squad.

Bent has scored 15 goals in 38 games for Tottenham this season, but has also been publicly criticised by Redknapp, who is thought to be interested in signing Peter Crouch from former club Portsmouth.

The Black Cats were particularly impressed with Bent’s work-rate and attitude during the 1-1 draw between the two sides at the Stadium of Light earlier this month.

Although Bent – who is a friend of Sunderland centre-back Anton Ferdinand – missed a wonderful chance when he was sent in on goal by a wild Dean Whitehead clearance, his head did not drop and he went on to create Tottenham’s equaliser in the last minute when he sent over a perfect low cross for Robbie Keane to convert.

It is that sort of work ethic that makes him such an attractive proposition, while his pace and direct running is also an asset to compliment Kenwyne Jones’s physical power and aerial threat.

Neither Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn nor manager Ricky Sbragia have ruled out turning

Cissé’s season-long loan deal from Marseille into a permanent move, but the Frenchman’s form has dipped in the last few weeks and there is a feeling both parties will agree to go their separate ways at the end of the campaign.

The falling strength of the pound against the euro has further complicated the issue as the fee agreed with his French club last summer has risen by several million pounds because of the faltering exchange rate.

Cissé has scored 10 goals this season, but his partnership with Jones – which looked an ideal pairing on paper – has failed to fire properly and there will be plenty of interest in the 27-year-old from rival Premier League clubs if he keeps his options open.

However, all transfer plans remain on the drawing board at this stage as Sunderland still do not know which division they will be playing in next season.

The Wearsiders have failed to win in their last five games, and Quinn revealed last week that Sbragia’s position as manager will be reviewed again at the end of the season, no matter what division they are in.

Meanwhile, Sbragia is hoping winger Carlos Edwards can help provide the ammunition to ease the club away from the fight against relegation.

The Black Cats slipped to within three points of the drop zone at the weekend after their 1-0 defeat at Manchester City and results elsewhere.

However, the form of Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Edwards at Eastlands on his return to the starting line-up was a plus and Sbragia is keeping his fingers crossed that he can help his misfiring strikers end their drought.

He said: “Carlos is the one player we have got who can get behind teams, and that’s a valuable quality to have.

“We have got Andy Reid who can put a great ball in from the wing, and Steed Malbranque who can thread a lovely pass or show great vision.

“But Carlos is the one who has the pace to get in behind teams to put a cross over – and that’s something we have lacked generally.”

CAPTAIN Javier Mascherano admits Argentina must face the World Cup qualifier against Venezuela tomorrow with “seriousness and attitude” to improve their home form.

Argentina have won just one of their last three qualifiers at home, but Mascherano is sure the arrival of Diego Maradona as coach will make a difference tomorrow at Estadio Monumental.

“We have to have seriousness and attitude as well as responsibility to do important things on the field,” the Liverpool midfielder said.