Striker Marcus Bent has signed a three-year deal with Premiership Everton. Yesterday Town revealed that they had accepted bids of £450,000 from the Toffeemen and Portsmouth.

Bent was in talks with David Moyes yesterday and again today, with a medical pencilled in for this afternoon.

As well as the fee - £300,000 payable now the rest in a year's time - Town's management will also be pleased to see Bent's £17,000-a-week salary removed from the wage bill.

Boss Joe Royle is unlikely to be handed the cash to strengthen his squad while top earners Martijn Reuser and Pablo Couñago remain at the club.

Reuser will be in talks with Dutch side Willem II regarding a move next week, while Couñago is widely tipped for a return to Spanish football.

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