Former Town striker Darren Bent has completed his move from Charlton to Tottenham, according to reports late tonight. The fee is understood to be £14 million up front plus up to £3 million more in add-ons.
Bent is believed to have undergone his medical this evening and will sign a five-year contract worth £45,000-a-week, significantly less than the £80,000-a-week on offer at West Ham. The England striker decided against a move to Upton Park a fortnight ago, apparently because he was keen to move to a club which is playing in Europe next season.
If the £14 million initial fee is confirmed, Town will receive £2.28 million via the 20%-of-profit clause in the deal which took Bent to the Valley in 2005. Charlton paid £2.5 million up front plus two further payments of £50,000 after the striker had made his 20th and 40th appearances for the Addicks.
The top-ups in the current transfer are understood to relate to Spurs qualifying for the Champions League and Bent adding to his two England caps. Town will receive further small windfalls if and when those clauses are triggered.
Bent's move is likely to see the Blues firm up their third bid for Franny Jeffers, which is likely to be somewhere in the region of £750,000 with add-ons - presumably relating to appearances, goals and promotion - potentially taking the deal to the £1 million sought by Blackburn.
Meanwhile, Town's record signing, former goalkeeper Matteo Sereni has joined Torino on a free transfer from Lazio. The Italian signed for the Blues from Sampdoria for £4.7 million in 2001.
Town are still owed the second of two friendlies agreed as part of the deal which saw Sereni leave Portman Road in the summer of 2003.
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