IPSWICH Town manager Jim Magilton is expecting to have his 2007/08 Premiership push boosted by the departure of Darren Bent from relegated Charlton.The Blues are due to pocket 20 per cent of any profit Charlton make thanks to a sell-on clause agreed when the England striker was transferred from Portman Road to the Valley for £2.6million in the summer of 2005.
By Elvin King
IPSWICH Town manager Jim Magilton is expecting to have his 2007/08 Premiership push boosted by the departure of Darren Bent from relegated Charlton.
The Blues are due to pocket 20 per cent of any profit Charlton make thanks to a sell-on clause agreed when the England striker was transferred from Portman Road to the Valley for £2.6million in the summer of 2005.
With Tottenham favourites to buy Bent during the close season - and a fee of around £10million reported to be the asking price - Magilton's budget could be swelled by around £1.5million or so.
Charlton manager Alan Pardew has indicated that he might be able to hold on to the ambitious Bent and cover his wages with parachute payments of around £22million over the next two seasons.
But Magilton believes that Bent is keen to stay in the top flight, and not drop down to the Championship.
Major moves are taking place behind the scenes to reduce the £36million debt figure currently attributed to Ipswich, and if this proves successful some big investment moves can be expected.
But Magilton would also welcome the extra cash provided by his former Town team mate, saying: “Any extra cash that materialises will be very welcome and like everybody else with Ipswich Town's interests at heart I would like to see Darren move on for a high fee.
“It would benefit him as well to stay in the Premier League as this stage in his career.”
With Magilton's player budget expected to be in line with other non-parachute clubs - around £5.5million next season - additional funds provided by Bent could well mean an extra addition or two.
Town will also profit if Bent makes his first England appearance in a competitive international prior to leaving Charlton.
England play Estonia on June 6, and Ipswich are set to receive £200,000 from Charlton for each of Bent's first two competitive England caps.
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