x

Charlton In For Bent? - Ipswich Town News

Charlton Athletic are the latest Premiership club being linked with a move for Darren Bent. The striker is one of the Young Guns - the players Town most want to hang on to.

Bent has been linked with a number of Premiership clubs over the last year or so including Newcastle and Southampton but felt that remaining at Portman Road serves him best at this point in his career.

Namesake Marcus Bent, 26 yesterday, is a player the Blues will definitely be looking to off-load in the summer. The striker has just returned from a season-long loan with Leicester and is expected to leave Portman Road in the close season.

The Foxes are keen to keep him but would not be able to compete with the contracts offered by Scots giants Rangers and Celtic who have also been mentioned in connection with the much-travelled front man.

Bent has a year left on his Town deal but the club will not want to pay his £17,000-a-week wage for long.

With a number of clubs appearing to be interested in the ex-Blackburn striker, the Blues might manage to get a fee for Bent but nothing approaching the £3 million they paid for him in November 2001.

In addition to Bent, the Blues are also likely to want to rid themselves of the other two highest earners. Martijn Reuser has signalled his intention to leave, despite having a year left on his contract.

In Holland FC Twente and Willem II have both been reported to be interested in the midfielder.

Pablo Couñago, the club's highest-paid player, is another whose exit would please the Town money men. A move back to Spain seems the most likely, although the player himself has said he is keen to remain with the Blues.

In addition to the nine senior players out of contract at the end of June, coach Tony Mowbray's deal is also up.

Mogga is known to want to manage a club of his own and will discuss his position in the course of the next few weeks.

What to read next:

McKenna: O'Shea and Morsy Share Some Traits
Blues manager Kieran McKenna says new skipper Dara O’Shea shares some similarities with former captain Samy Morsy but while adding his own personality to the role.
McKenna: All Transfer Windows Are Tough, This Has Had the Most Challenging Situations
Manager Kieran McKenna says all transfer windows have been tough but this one presented the most challenging situations in pre-season with the Blues going into an important final few days still needing to add to the squad and with more players perhaps moving on.
McKenna: Matusiwa Settling in Well in Challenging Role
Blues boss Kieran McKenna says summer signing Azor Matusiwa is settling in well, despite having gone straight into a challenging role with the midfield light following summer exits.
McKenna: Challenging Start But Positives to Take
Town boss Kieran McKenna says it’s been a challenging start to the season but with positives to be taken from it, the Blues having drawn both their opening fixtures 1-1 against sides also expected to be in the division’s upper echelons come May.
McKenna Tight-Lipped on McAteer Interest
Boss Kieran McKenna wouldn’t be drawn on the Blues’ interest in Leicester City winger Kasey McAteer at his lunchtime press conference.
McKenna: We Want to Keep Woolfy But These Situations Aren't Always Simple
Town manager Kieran McKenna says Luke Woolfenden, a target of Coventry, Stoke and other Championship sides, is a player he wants to keep at Portman Road but that these situations are never simple.
McKenna: One or Two Little Issues, No Break for Szmodics, Cajuste and Akpom Training
Town boss Kieran McKenna says the squad has one or two little issues from the Southampton game which are being assessed but confirmed Sammie Szmodics didn’t suffer a fracture to his arm and that recent loan signings Jens Cajuste and Chuba Akpom have trained with the squad this week.
Town Eyeing Leicester Forward McAteer
Town are eyeing Leicester City winger Kasey McAteer.
Chelsea Owners Agree Enciso Deal
Chelsea owners BlueCo are reported to have agreed a deal to sign ex-Town loanee Julio Enciso from Brighton.
Ex-Blues Loanee Godfrey Set For Blades
Former Blues loanee Ben Godfrey is set to join Sheffield United on loan from Atalanta.