Darren Bent

Tottenham are ready to cut their losses after telling record-signing Darren Bent he can leave White Hart Lane.

Eyebrows were raised when Spurs spent £16.5million on Darren Bent last summer, pipping West Ham to his signature.

Now Bent has been told he can go in this transfer window or in the summer and Spurs are willing to accept around £12.5m for the striker who has scored only three goals in 14 League appearances this season.

The 23-year-old England international has been a huge disappointment and is not rated by new manager Juande Ramos.

Bent was offered to Middlesbrough in Spurs' attempts to prise Stewart Downing away from Teesside. But Boro chairman Steve Gibson is holding out for a straight cash deal and will not sell the England winger for less than £12m.

West Ham have been alerted to Bent's availability, although manager Alan Curbishley's interest has cooled after the striker snubbed a move to the Hammers in the summer despite lengthy negotiations.

Curbishley has also been put off by the asking price of £12.5m now that the purse strings have been tightened at Upton Park.