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Bruce warns suitors off Bent

Darren Bent has scored five goals in eight matches this season © Getty Images

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Steve Bruce has warned that only a 'silly money' offer would see Sunderland part company with striker Darren Bent.

The former Spurs forward scored 24 goals last season behind Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba, but with Rooney's anticipated departure from Old Trafford, Bruce is only too aware that Bent may attract the attention of Sir Alex Ferguson.

But having been forced to release Antonio Valencia to Manchester United as Wigan manager, Bruce has no intention of letting Bent go in the same direction.

"When you see the records and goalscoring charts Benty is always up there. Rooney, Drogba, Bent," Bruce said. "I hope nothing will happen.

"That is a problem all managers face from time to time. It is the nature of football that there are merry-go-rounds but I don't want to pre-empt it. It is always the hard part. I faced it at Wigan a few times when I had Valencia and [Wilson] Palacios and knew they were going. It is always a worry.

"At Sunderland we can turn everything down but silly money. Ultimately as we have witnessed at Man U player power is unbelievable. For us to part with Benty... bloody hell, it is something we won't even entertain. At Wigan you are going to be up against it. If Manchester United come in then you will be struggling.

"You can tell players under contract that they have to stay, you can go down that route, but how many times have we seen it. We are talking hypothetically here but players have downed tools. It is not a healthy one but that is football. It is the unfortunate side of football and if it comes you deal with it. If you look at the strides this club has made since Niall and the owner have come in. there has been lots of investment and lots of ambition."

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