Tottenham are set to sign Charlton Athletic striker Darren Bent for £16 million.

The Guardian says Bent is expected to complete a £16m move to Tottenham within the next seven days after Charlton agreed to accept a reduced offer for their striker.

Charlton have since softened their stance and are ready to settle for £15m with a potential extra £1m in success-related payments.

"The main reason we think Darren has such a high value is because he has just turned 23," said a Charlton source. "In four years' time do you think for one minute transfer fees will have gone down with all the TV money coming in? He will be 27 and one of the top English centre-forwards. He's going to be worth at least £20m.

"Basically we see it as a free deal for somebody. OK, there is a cashflow implication but they will profit. If you buy Michael Owen at 27 - £9m transfer fee, £120,000-a-week - you've got to write that all off because in four years' time he'll be 31 and nearing the end of his career. It's a good deal and, once it's happened, in a year's time it will look cheap."