Black Cats ‘very close’ to sealing Bent deal

SUNDERLAND assistant manager Eric Black has confirmed the club are “very close” to signing striker Darren Bent from Tottenham.

Black, Steve Bruce’s number two at the Stadium of Light, hopes to see Bent complete his move today and is optimistic the England international’s arrival will persuade other targets to move to the north-east.

Bent, who joined Tottenham for £16.5million (€19.3m) two years ago, was at Sunderland yesterday for a medical. Last night Black said: “We’re very close. I wouldn’t say we’re 100% confident we’re going to get him and we’re hopeful that in the next 24 hours he’ll be a Sunderland player.