CHARLTON want a whopping £15 million for ex-Ipswich striker Darren Bent.And if they obtain the full asking price it will mean a near-£2.5m windfall for Town under the terms of his transfer two years ago.

By Mel Henderson

CHARLTON want a whopping £15 million for ex-Ipswich striker Darren Bent.

And if they obtain the full asking price it will mean a near-£2.5m windfall for Town under the terms of his transfer two years ago.

Tottenham and Everton lead the chase for Bent, whose stock has risen after 37 goals in 79 games for the Addicks. Arsenal may also be contenders to capture the 23-year-old after watching him closely in the final weeks of the season.

Following their relegation from the Premiership, Charlton are resigned to losing the services of a player handed the captaincy by new boss Alan Pardew.

The football grapevine is buzzing with rumours that England international Bent will be on his way from The Valley sooner rather than later.

Bent moved to Charlton on June 1, 2005, for an initial fee of £2.5m and Ipswich have since received a further £100,000 after he clocked up 50 appearances.

They have so far missed out, however, on the £400,000 up for grabs once he made two competitive appearances for England, his two international caps so far both being gained in friendlies.

But should Bent move on for £15m Town will be entitled to £2.48m, being 20 per cent of the profit Charlton will have made on the player.

Bent was almost on his way to White Hart Lane in the January transfer window but a deal could not be pushed through in time with the clubs at loggerheads over his transfer fee.

Charlton are determined to demand top dollar as they cash in on the former Portman Road academy kid, who netted 55 times in 141 outings for Ipswich.

Bent's agents - he switched camps in March - are braced for a busy period of negotiations regarding their client's future.

He was previously on the books of Jonathan Barnett's Stellar Group but is now looked after by Neil Fewings of the Wasserman Media Group, who recently acquired SFX, the company who represent fellow England striker Michael Owen.

Meanwhile, former Ipswich skipper Matt Holland, 33, is ready to sign a new one-year deal to remain with Charlton in the Championship next season.