Tottenham boss Martin Jol is convinced Darren Bent can fire the club into the Champions League places next season.

Jol's side finished eight points behind the Gunners in the final Champions League place last season and were pipped to fourth on the final day of the 2005/06 season after Arsene Wenger's men staged a late surge.

"If Thierry Henry did not play we would have been fourth, I'm still convinced about that," Jol said.

With Chelsea changing their tradition of heavy investment, Spurs have joined Manchester United as the clubs making the big moves in the transfer market.

Jol added: "Darren knows Spurs is the place to be and that's something to be proud of."

Sporting director Damien Comolli said: "He recognised we have a project here and as a player he wants to work with Martin Jol and showed that all the way.

"The two signings we've completed so far in Darren and Gareth Bale offer us massive improvement in terms of the squad, players with great potential whose best days are in front of them."