If you thought Darren Bent's transfer fee of £18 million was crazy, you must think Sunderland holding out for an even bigger payday is downright insanity.
You would be correct, but not for the reason you'd think.
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Bent has been nothing short of spectacular for Sunderland in his time there. In fact, the only other strikers who have been more dangerous in the Premier League over the past couple of seasons are named Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba, and both of those players have been marginally superior to Bent (on the scoresheet) despite benefitting from world class supporting casts.
In short, Bent is absolutely worth what Sunderland is asking for him in the open market.
What's crazy is not the fee that The Black Cats will inevitably collect for Bent. Rather, it's that Bent seems willing to go an Aston Villa side that has been downright awful in the league this season.
Sure, the striker's relationship has soured with his current club to the point that he requested a transfer out. What is hard to believe is that he's so disillusioned at Sunderland that he's willing to go just about anywhere else.
Sunderland are currently in sixth place in the EPL and are very much a contender for European football next year. Aston Villa, on the other hand, are sitting just outside the relegation zone at the moment and are a team in flux under new manager Gerard Houllier.
Bent's goalscoring prowess will undoubtedly be an immense help to the struggling side, and should even keep them clear from relegation. It just seems that a poor side in transition shouldn't be the destination for one of the leagues most prolific attackers, especially when he seems to hold most of the power.
Perhaps it speaks to the relatively soft (to this point) transfer market out there right now, than Bent's biggest suitor is a team that is significantly weaker than the one he's keen on leaving. Outside of Manchester City's usual nuttiness (and even that seems to be muted, relatively), the big teams aren't spending much so far, and thus Villa seems to be the only team willing to part with big money for Bent.
Consider that the other big transfer story in England today is the "bidding war" between Chelsea and Spurs for South African captain Steven Pienaar, who seems to be moving to Tottenham for a decidedly un-princely sum of £2.5-3 million.
That a solid EPL veteran with World Cup experience - who would have commanded £8-10 million in transfer windows past - is likely to be sold for such a small fee could speak to an overall reeling in of expenses that has softened the current window, and severely limited Bent's options.
Only time will tell.
Some other transfer talk from around Europe over the weekend and on Monday:
England
- Tottenham has joined Liverpool in the chase to sign Uruguay World Cup star Luis Suarez from Ajax.
- Chelsea set to make an improved bid for Benfica's David Luiz.
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Ashley Young is among Kenny Dalgish's transfer targets for Liverpool.
- Notts Country reject improved Derby bid for Ben Davies.
- Birmingham City turn down chance to sign Robbie Keane.
- Nottingham Forest to trial South African midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala.
- American midfielder Jermaine Jones close to loan deal with Blackburn Rovers.
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Demba Ba's move to Stoke collapses after failing medical.
- Cameroon midfielder Jean Il Makoun joined Aston Villa from Lyon, pending a work permit.
Denmark
- Celtic defender Jos Hooiveld heads for Copenhagen loan.
Turkey
- Bursaspor are expected to make a bid for Rangers' Kenny Miller.