CHELSEA have been quoted a staggering £18million for Darren Bent. Jose Mourinho made his move on Thursday — but is understood to have asked for time to think over Charlton’s astonishing price tag. Addicks boss Alan Pardew admitted yesterday for the first time he would consider parting with the club captain in the January window.
Pardew explained: “If he hadn’t been injured, the decision was categorically that Darren wasn’t going anywhere. “But I’m having to see how things go and how he responds to the injury. He might not be back for another five or six weeks and that might be too late for us. “So it’s something I am thinking about.
“If someone wants to pay for him in this window they’ll have to wait until he gets fit. “They might be in a position to do that whereas I might not be.” Pardew added: “There has been interest in Darren. I think that’s the case in every window. “This is a top-class player in my view. The injury changes things. “We are trying to locate a striker to replace him.”
Mourinho is desperate to recruit a new hitman with proven Premiership ability. England international Bent, 22, is eligible for the Champions League and was seen as a possible back-up for Didier Drogba. But Bent’s knee injury could prove a deal breaker.West Ham are also in the hunt for Bent and are thought to be ready to offer £5m plus Hayden Mullins and Marlon Harewood.