How arch rivals Arsenal will benefit from Bentley joining Spurs
SPURS yesterday bolstered their ranks by signing midfielder David Bentley from Blackburn Rovers, writes Patrick Mooney. The club confirmed to the Stock Exchange that a £15m deal, potentially rising to £17m, had been agreed for the 23-year-old. England in
SPURS yesterday bolstered their ranks by signing midfielder David Bentley from Blackburn Rovers, writes Patrick Mooney.
The club confirmed to the Stock Exchange that a £15m deal, potentially rising to £17m, had been agreed for the 23-year-old.
England international Bentley joined Rovers in 2006 and extended his contract last year, but made it clear he wanted to move on.
Arch rivals Arsenal, Bentley's former club, stand to receive a percentage of the deal as part of his transfer to Ewood Park.
The winger made just nine appearances under Arsene Wenger but will join Sol Campbell as the only high-profile players to feature for Arsenal and Spurs in the modern era.
Russians Andrei Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko are two more possible targets for coach Juande Ramos, who will be looking to strengthen his attack after the controversial sale of Robbie Keane to Liverpool on Monday.
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The Lilywhites have also agreed to drop their official complaint to the Premier League after Liverpool apologised for their conduct in pursuing the Irishman.
However, chairman Daniel Levy is still furious at the deal and said: "I don't regard it as a transfer deal - that is something which happens between two clubs when they both agree to trade. This is very much an enforced sale, for which we have agreed a sum of £19m as compensation plus a potential further £1.3m in additional compensation."
Meanwhile, Steed Malbranque became the third Spurs player to join Sunderland when he agreed a four-year deal on Wednesday. He joins Teemu Tainio and Pascal Chimbonda on Wearside.
On the field, Spurs beat Leyton Orient 5-1 on Wednesday with Darren Bent scoring a hat-trick to add to his four goals he scored at Norwich on Monday. Luka Modric scored his first goal for Tottenham while Aaaron Lennon was also on target.
Spurs now travel to Holland for weekend friendlies against Celtic and Borussia Dortmund.
