Spurs place £18million price tag on Darren Bent - Exclusive

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is demanding a staggering £18million for Darren Bent.

New Sunderland boss Steve Bruce wants to make the striker his first signing at The Stadium of Light.

But Levy's huge valuation is putting him off and also making life difficult for Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, who needs the sale before he can buy new talent of his own.

Bruce was hoping to pay £12m for the pacy front runner - and partner him with another England strike star, Portsmouth's Peter Crouch.

Redknapp is also unhappy about Bent's price tag, but the club want a good return on a man who cost £16.65m just two years ago.

In the meantime, Redknapp is stuck with an unwanted player while other targets are slipping from his grasp.

Sunderland will try to make Tottenham drop the fee in further talks, but Levy is a notoriously tough negotiator and the stand-off may continue for a long time to come.

One player definitely leaving is midfielder Tom Huddlestone, after Spurs accepted three bids of £8.5m for the England Under-21 star.

Everton, Sunderland and Aston Villa are the sides chasing Huddlestone, who was frustrated at losing his first-team place. He wants regular Premier League football to boost his chances of making the England squad.