Damien Comolli

Tottenham sporting director Damien Comolli insists reports the club are looking to sell Darren Bent are "wide of the mark".

Bent has failed to settle at White Hart Lane since Spurs splashed out a club-record £16.5million to lure the striker away from Charlton last summer.

And it has been reported Spurs will be willing to let Bent leave in the January transfer window, with the player strongly linked with a reunion with former boss Alan Curbishley, who is now manager of West Ham.

But Comolli has hit back at the speculation, and also says the club are not in the market for a new striker despite it be suggested they are are lining up a move for Lyon forward Fred.

Comolli told Tottenham's official website: "The majority of the reports that I have read are completely wide of the mark.

"I feel it is important to clarify a couple of things that are unhelpful - namely that reports that Darren Bent is for sale are totally inaccurate and, furthermore, we are not in the market for any strikers."

Despite Comolli's comments about transfer targets, Spurs did show interest in Fred, although that was at a time when Dimitar Berbatov's future at Spurs looked uncertain.