Bent turns down West Ham move
Bent rejects West Ham move
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Thursday, 14, Jun 2007 09:41
Charlton striker Darren Bent has rejected the opportunity to join West Ham United in a £16 million deal.
The 23-year-old England international was believed to have been in discussions with West Ham manager Alan Curbishley on Thursday over a proposed £75,000 a week package, which would have seen Hayden Mullins move in the opposite direction.
Bent was also expected to have had undergone a medical at Upton Park on Friday to secure a contract, which would have seen him reunited with the manager who signed him for Charlton in 2004.
However, according to Charlton chief executive Peter Varney, despite West Ham having been the only club to match the club's valuation, Bent decided not to join the Hammers.
He also told the Charlton Athletic website: "We therefore look forward to Darren starting with us in the Championship next season, which is a massive boost to our chances of returning to the Premier League."
Bent's decision is likely to reawaken interest from a number of clubs who have expressed interest in signing him, including Tottenham, Liverpool and Valencia.
Signed from Ipswich for a fee of £2.5 million, Bent has been Charlton's top scorer for the past two seasons, although injury stifled his attempts to help save Charlton from relegation this season.
Bent was controversially omitted from England's final World Cup squad last year, with an injury to Michael Owen ultimately leaving the striking options threadbare in the latter stages of the tournament.