Sunderland Football Club News

• Nickname:Black Cats
• Founded:1879
• Manager:Martin O'Neill

• Ground:Stadium of light
• Capacity:48,353

Black Cats miss out on Bent

03 Feb 2009 - 13:42:56

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Boss Ricky Sbragia has admitted that Sunderland were thwarted in their efforts to try and sign Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent.

The Black Cats were keen to try and tempt the 24-year-old England international to head north, but their approach was rejected by Spurs.

Sbragia told the Sunderland Echo: "I haven't really had much to do with that one. Niall Quinn was involved in that one far more than I was.

"We were interested in him, but we weren't certain whether he was going to become available.

"But I think maybe the Robbie Keane deal came through too late and maybe Spurs just decided they wanted to keep him."

Bent has scored 22 goals in 66 appearances for Spurs since his arrival from Charlton Athletic in the summer of 2007, including 14 this season.