Bent goes for £16.5m

Darren Bent has been sold to Spurs for £16.5m. This fee is near to Charlton's valuation of £17m and represents a hard bargain driven by the club. £15.5m is up front with the rest dependent on appearances and England caps. 20 per cent of the total will go to Ipswich, a nice boost for the Tractors (although their share will be confined to the basic fee).

Hopefully, there will now be some more signings to boost the Charlton squad. Not all the Bent money will be available, of course, but strengthening the midfield remains a priority.