Former Town striker Marcus Bent has said that manager David Moyes was a major factor in his decision to sign a three-year deal at Everton. Portsmouth also had a £450,000 bid for the striker accepted but Bent quickly decided on a move to Goodison Park.

Bent said: “I came here on Tuesday and David Moyes showed me around the training ground and had a good talk with me. I was very impressed with what David had to say.

“He told me why he wanted me here and what he wanted me to do for the club and for myself and he was very positive. It made me want to come here.”

Moyes had previously been interested in Bent during his management spell at Preston, something which pleased the striker: “I first caught his eye when he was at Preston. He did say to me that he tried to sign me before I went to Blackburn, while he was at Deepdale, so that boosted my confidence a little bit.

“He's wanted me for a long time. He knows what I can do and I think that when a manger puts his confidence in you, it makes you a better player.

“From his point of view, he's very focused, he's very determined, he knows what he wants and I think the players are going to give it to him.

“The club has a lot of ambition; it's a big club, although it didn't do as well as it could have
last year, but hopefully I can come here, make a difference and do my utmost to be as good as I can be and score goals.”

Bent says he expects to see more new faces join him at the Merseyside club: “I've seen what they're determined to do here and what they're focused on. They have underachieved, but it's a new season, a new start and I'm sure there will be a few more players coming in.

“But whoever does come in, I'm sure they will be 100% for the cause and I'm sure we'll do a lot better.

“As a forward I hope I bring goals! I scored 10 goals last season with Leicester and I didn't play in every game.

“But I played in the majority of the games and I scored some good goals, so hopefully the fans will see pace, a bit of aerial power and most importantly goals.”

Photo: Action Images

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