The deal is believed to be worth £14million and will bring to an end a lengthy and eventful pursuit from Sunderland boss Steve Bruce.
Bent finished as Tottenham’s top scorer last season with 17 goals but has fallen out of favour with manager Harry Redknapp and would have been fifth choice striker, had he chosen to stay at White Hart Lane.
Steve Bruce declared an interest in the England international early in the summer but it has taken a long time for the two clubs to agree a fee and Bent’s frustration was highlighted last week after he posted an online rant on social network site Twitter. The striker accused Spurs chairman Daniel Levy of disrupting the deal but has since apologised, saying: “I appreciate that transfers are seldom straightforward.
“I regret my actions and did not intend to offend Daniel Levy or anyone with the nature or the content of my posting.”
However it seems a safe football bet that Bent’s actions have not put off his prospective new manager, who told the Sunderland Echo: “Footballers aren’t just objects. There’s a human being in this who is obviously caught up in the middle and wants his future sorted out.”
Bent is currently in the north east for a medical and should become the Black Cat’s fourth signing of the summer following the arrivals of Lorik Cana, Paulo Da Silva and Frazier Campbell.
Tottenham’s strike-force will be cut to four, however Redknapp has not ruled out further signings and is actively tracking Real Madrid forward Klaas Jan Huntelaar.
