Cats up bid for Darren to £12m

Jul 28 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

SUNDERLAND have made a second and improved offer for Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent and hope to be able to confirm his transfer later this week.

The Black Cats have been locked in intense negotiations with Spurs over the last few days and manager Steve Bruce admitted on Sunday night he feared the deal was going to collapse.

Tottenham had been looking to recoup the £16.5m they paid Charlton Athletic two years ago for the England international – who was last night pulled out of the travelling party for the Londoners’ pre-season trip to China – but Sunderland’s second bid is thought to be only £12m.

That, though, should be enough for the deadlock to be broken, as Tottenham need the money to fund their move for former Sunderland target Peter Crouch and Bent wants to leave White Hart Lane.

Indeed, given that Spurs have paid less than £11m for Crouch, Sunderland have every right to feel their offer is both attractive and realistic in the current market.

Bruce is also hoping Bordeaux see common sense regarding the future of Marouane Chamakh. The Wearsiders have offered around £6m for the Moroccan, but his French club are holding out for nearer £10m before they let him move to England.

Bruce, though, knows the player is keen to come to the Stadium of Light, which strengthens Sunderland’s bargaining position.

However, his chances of landing former Middlesbrough midfielder Lee Cattermole look to have been dashed by his former chairman Dave Whelan.

Bruce has refused to be put off the scent in his chase of the England Under-21 international, even though Wigan are adamant he is not leaving and the player has not put in a transfer request.

But Whelan said: “Sunderland are wasting their time – and I’ve told them that. I said, ‘Don’t even bother bidding for him again’. Lee will be at Wigan this season. He isn’t going anywhere. He’s staying here.”

Meanwhile, Jordan Henderson has been tipped to make his first inroads into the Premier League following a series of promising performances in pre-season.

The 19-year-old started both Sunderland’s games against Benfica and Atlético Madrid in the Amsterdam Tournament and has done enough to suggest to Bruce he is ready for league action.

Having spent the second half of last season on loan at Coventry City in the Championship, Henderson has quickly endeared himself to Bruce, who has used him in a defensive midfielder’s position rather than in his more familiar wide role.

And the teenager, who is yet to play a game in the top flight for the Black Cats, is in line for at least a spot on the bench when Sunderland travel to Bolton Wanderers on August 15.

But Bruce is quick to add that, while Henderson has caught the eye over the last few weeks, there are others who are also impressing, including striker Martyn Waghorn and midfielder Jack Colback. He said: “We have a crop of a very good kids and Jordan is one of them. I would have played Jack Colback instead of Jordan against Atlético Madrid but he picked up a slight groin strain.

“We like Colback as well. There’s four or five of them who have given themselves a wonderful chance.

“The one thing 18-year-olds do give you is huge energy and to be fair, Jordan has put himself right in the window to be in consideration to play in the first game in the Premier League.”