Sunderland boss Steve Bruce admits he's desperate to close a deal for Tottenham striker Darren Bent.

"Darren Bent is another one where we are trying our utmost," said Bruce in the Sunday Sun.

"We have tried all summer for Peter Crouch and Darren Bent. Talks are ongoing as we speak at a high level.

"We hope we can do something with it, but as we have just experienced last week, we can get knocked back as well.

"We have to agree a fee - obviously it isn't done yet. But we are talking.

"The one thing I have to do to attract top players here is to make Sunderland an established Premier League team. It is a club that has been up and down too much in recent history."