Tottenham Hotspur sign Crouch, set to let Bent leave

LONDON - Tottenham Hotspur have continued their summer rebuilding programme with the signing of striker Peter Crouch from Portsmouth, a move that looks set to signal the departure of Darren Bent.

Crouch completed his move Monday night for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of 10 million pounds (16.5 million dollars), returning to the club where he began his career as a trainee.

The arrival of the former Liverpool man seems set to trigger the departure of Bent, who was pulled off the club’s flight for a pre-season tour to China at the very last second.

“Crouch has had a medical and everything was fine,” Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said. “We now have four strikers as it looks like Darren Bent could move. I believe he is close to doing a deal with Sunderland.

“He gives us a bit of a different option. We now have four top strikers which is what you need at every club and so I am delighted to have Crouchy.

“He is different to almost anyone else in the league in terms of his size and the way he plays the game, so I am pleased to have him. With him, Robbie (Keane), Jermain Defoe and (Roman) Pavlyuchenko we have a good strikeforce.”

Crouch scored 16 goals in all competitions for Portsmouth last season.