Alan Pardew insists a £7million bid for Charlton Athletic
striker Darren Bent 'isn't going to touch the sides'.
Speculation has claimed that Tottenham Hotspur are ready to bid
that sum to bring Bent to White Hart Lane in January.
New Charlton boss Pardew admits his intention is to keep the club's
top scorer at The Valley, and certainly would not countenance
accepting a £7million bid.
But Pardew also acknowledges that a knee injury to Bent, which will
keep the England cap out for five weeks, has given him a
problem.
"It sounds like his price has dropped if you're thinking £7million
because £7million isn't going to touch the sides for Darren Bent,"
said Pardew on Sky Sports News.
"This is a top-class player in my view. After watching him for just
a week and a bit, he's an England player and that's how he should
set his goals.
"At the moment he's a Charlton player and that's what he will
stay.
"His injury at the moment gives us a problem. We cannot afford to
have him out of the team for five weeks, so I'm having to assess it
and weigh up all the situations and I'll have to do what's right
for Charlton Football Club.
"My priority when I came here, and when he was fit, was that he was
not going to go anywhere, that was categoric.
"The injury changes things. We are trying to locate a strike to
replace him, so we'll see.
"Certainly the figures for Darren Bent being bandied around are way
too low."
Spurs later confirmed to Sky Sports News that the club had not made
any bid for the former Ipswich Town striker.