Liverpool FC Forum

by **Salty Sock** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 5:05 am

I rate HIM!

by **account deleted by request** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:01 am

From The TimesJune 15, 2007

Bent rejects West Ham’s offer of £75,000 a week Gary Jacob
Darren Bent last night turned down a move to West Ham United in the hope of securing a switch to Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur. West Ham had agreed a fee of £16 million plus Hayden Mullins, the midfield player, for the Charlton Athletic forward.

Bent had been offered a five-year contract worth about £75,000 a week during talks at Upton Park yesterday — which would have made him the joint-highest paid player at the club with Scott Parker, the midfield player, who joined from Newcastle United last week. West Ham were the only club willing to meet the asking price of about £17 million, but Bent’s decision raises several issues.

Alan Pardew, the Charlton manager, may now be hampered in the transfer market because he needed the sale to fund signings and is unlikely to be able to obtain the same fee from other bidders.

Tottenham are believed to be willing to offer only £12 million and Liverpool have at least four other preferred targets. Those two clubs will not be willing to pay Bent more than £55,000 a week, which is double his wage at The Valley.

“West Ham were the only club to meet our valuation,” Peter Varney, the Charlton chief executive, said. “Darren has decided not to join them.”

It is a significant blow to Alan Curbishley, the West Ham manager. He signed Bent for Charlton from Ipswich Town for £2.5 million two years ago. The forward has since scored 31 goals in 68 league appearances, although his strike-rate against the top sides has not been as favourable.

He scored only once in the eight meetings with the top-four sides in his first season in the Barclays Premiership, but he fared better this term, when he scored two in four matches against the same sides. By comparison, Andrew Johnson, the Everton forward, scored 21 league goals for Crystal Palace when they were relegated two years ago.

Curbishley has not found it easy signing players, despite having about £40 million to spend. He lost out on Mark Viduka, the Middlesbrough forward, and Joey Barton, the Manchester City midfield player, both of whom moved to Newcastle. Jermain Defoe, the Tottenham Hotspur striker, is unlikely to be interested in a return to Upton Park. Curbishley may now turn to Craig Bellamy, the Liverpool forward.

by **redtrader74** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:14 am

Footballs officially gone mad, an average prem player 16m+, £75k a week. Why would they offer to treble his salary, double it and he should bite their hand off. Hope spurs get him, i don't want him.

by **maypaxvobiscum** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:40 am

16mil...that would be a record transfer for a player from the championship wouldnt it? and the wages. gosh. maybe he thinks west ham is going to get relegated after the the trial.

by **Scouse_legend** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 9:13 am

i think that he wont go west ham i reckon he will stay at charlton i think but if he gona go to anyone i think he will go tottenham cause if he goes to liverpool he wont fit in i think cause he used to playing with poo players

by **humdrum** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 9:43 am

its been confirmed that he has rejected west ham. on bbc website it says that this will now open the door for us and spurs - 18mil is too much - he is worth about 9mil but he is still not by any means world class

by **kobashi** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 9:59 am

Charlton want £16m though. if no other club meets the valuation they will not sell. Charlton can afford to hold onto him for another season.

by **dawson99** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:03 am

im scared that we will buy him. there has to be a reason why he turned down a 16 million move and 75k a week. and if u ask me thats because he thinks we will buy him.

i do like him as a player, but would probably pay about 10 mill tops

by **account deleted by request** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:06 am

I think he's off to Spurs myself (Hopefully). Spurs have been after a pacy striker who can head a ball for a while.

by **dawson99** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:08 am

well if they got him id take defoe off there hands for a few mill

by **humdrum** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:11 am

i think we will sign Bent - agree that he probably rejected west ham because he expects us to make a bid for huim soon - defoe will go Man Utd if anywhere

by **kobashi** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:13 am

it's obvious charlton are looking for a big fee. you people think Rafa is gonna pay this £14m - £16m for him?

damn we could get Huntalaar for cheaper.

by **account deleted by request** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:14 am

Unfortunately I don't rate Defoe highly either. Outside of the usual names Eto'o, Villa etc there arnt many strikers I really want(maybe Owen).

by **humdrum** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:29 am

i dont think owen would come back - i think he will stay at castle. Villa will probably only go chelsea if anywhere. Huntelaar looks to be heading for man u ffs

by **europian-kings** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:35 am

i agree on the fact that bent isnt world class and that he wont be good at the club, but i for one am not going to believe any transfer speculation until it is a done deal..then i will give my opinion lol. but till then...its all just rumors to me

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