City poised to sign striker Bent

[Scotty]

CARDIFF CITY are poised to sign striker Marcus Bent from Charlton within the next 48 hours.

The 30-year-old front man, who spent last season on loan in the Premiership with Wigan, will be allowed to leave the Valley for a fee of around £1m.

Cardiff City chairman Peter Ridsdale last night admitted an interest in Bent, but would only confirm he expected a striker to join before this weekend.

Bent may be on £15,000 a week at Charlton, but Ridsdale said personal terms should not be a stumbling block in any deal.

“I was on the phone to the player’s agent three times yesterday. Things are progressing well and we expect to have our man very soon,” said Ridsdale.

“We would not be entering into negotiations if we did think agreeing personal terms was going to be an issue.”

Bent, who earned caps for England at under-21 level, started his career at Brentford.

In a well-travelled career he has had spells at a host of clubs including Crystal Palace, Sheffield United. Blackburn, Ipswich and Everton.

He joined Charlton in January 2006 for £2.5m, but was unable to keep the south London outfit in the Premiership.

Last season, on loan at Wigan, he grabbed seven goals in 32 appearances as Steve Bruce’s side managed to avoid the drop.

But Bruce declined to sign Bent permanently insisting he was too similar in style to Emil Heskey to fit into his side.