18 million for Bent does sound like a lot, but it is at least a barometer on the market and probably a wake-up call for the people who are deciding what our budget should be. I've said it before on here, Bent is a good player and I'm sure he'll do well in a west Ham side which judging by the signings will be aiming for the top eight at least, but that is a huge fee even though he is admittedly quite young.
If he is worth 18 million, and Curbishley obviously thinks he is, then 35 or so for Eto looks like pretty good value to me. Given that Man Utd already have Rooney (who is worth over 30 million of anyone's money), Chelsea Drogba and Arsenal Henri, we may in actual fact never have a better chance of going in big for a striker and actually getting him. Ultimately, wringing our hands and saying "feck me that's expensive" is all very well, but if that's the market then that's the market. It's Eto for me, lets cut the nonsense and go get him.