Money makes the world go mad

It's official, the transfer world has gone mad. As Darren Bent stands on the verge of joining West Ham for a staggering £17m, you can't help but wonder just who sets these inflated prices for today's stars?

I say 'stars,' but can we really call Bent that? With just two full seasons in the Premiership and two England caps to his name, it seems that the Hammers are taking a rather large gamble on the services of a player who at best could only be described as England's fourth choice striker behind Owen, Rooney and Crouch, and messrs Johnson, Smith and Defoe would have a thing or two to say about that.

Indeed, we could be looking at the frankly bizarre situation this summer of Bent moving clubs for more money than Thierry Henry does.

Granted Bent is just 23, Henry 29, but has the Englishman shown enough in his brief top-flight career to suggest that greatness is around the corner? Hardly.

Don't get me wrong, Bent is a good striker, and I wish him well at West Ham if that is indeed his destination, there's talk of a late Spurs bid (isn't there always?) but his transfer underlines the hugely inflated nature of the English transfer market. If Bent was Spanish or Italian, and had made as little an impact on their national side as he has on England's, he would cost less than half of what West Ham will pay.

The money of course comes from biscuit magnate Eggert Magnusson, who, with the appointment of Alan Curbishley and the signings of Scott Parker and now Bent, seems determined to turn West Ham into the new Charlton. So long as they don't start playing that dreadful 'Red, Red Robin' song before games Hammers fans are likely to approve.

More money will doubtless be splashed around the Premiership in the coming days and weeks. Liverpool are yet to make their much anticipated moves, Newcastle will doubtless have their say while Tottenham will of course be linked with anyone and everyone.

Perhaps the most interesting events will occur at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have already signed two players in the close season, Steve Sidwell and Claudio Pizarro both on free transfers. A third, Tal Ben Haim looks set to join; also on a free transfer.

Roman Abramovich to spend no money this summer? Surely all the evidence that's needed to prove that the world's gone mad.