Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier insists Darren Bent is in the same class as Manchester City's Edin Dzeko.
Dzeko cost City £27 million from Wolfsburg, while Villa signed Bent from Sunderland for a fee rising to £24 million.
Houllier said: "We are very happy he (Bent) is here. The chairman came to see his first training session. He is a tremendous asset, not only for the coming months but for the years ahead.
"Dzeko is a good striker. He scores goals, makes goals. Darren is more mobile, more incisive with his runs, Dzeko more of a holding player. Darren's record speaks for itself, though."
