Sunderland remain quietly optimistic about signing Darren Bent but are still haggling over a fee for the England striker. They suspect Tottenham Hotspur are hoping other teams will enter the race for the 25-year-old, thereby forcing an 11th-hour auction.
With no agreement reached, Bent failed to materialise for a medical on Wearside today and it seems any transfer is still some days from completion. Even so, Steve Bruce, Sunderland's manager, understands that Wearside is the player's preferred destination and that personal terms will not be a barrier to a deal.
It had appeared that the two clubs were close to agreeing a figure of around £12m, potentially rising to £14m, when Bent disembarked from Tottenham's flight to China for a pre-season tour and collected his belongings from the training ground, but negotiations have instead reached an impasse.
Aston Villa were reported to be keen on the former Ipswich Town and Charlton Athletic forward but this is not the case. Hull City and Stoke City have been linked with £15m bids for Bent – who cost Spurs £16.5m two years ago – but neither club possesses the requisite funds.
Sunderland have had a sometimes testy relationship with Tottenham in the past, particularly in connection with the London club's forlorn pursuit of Kenwyne Jones, and will not pay over the odds to acquire Bent.
Bruce's pursuit of the Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh is proving more frustrating, with the French club not only rejecting Sunderland's £6m for the Moroccan but, somewhat sniffily, suggesting Chamakh – who is being tracked by Arsenal – is 'too good' for them.
