Bruce claims a deal appeared close earlier in the week but would only rate Bent's chances of moving to the Stadium of Light now as "50-50".

Bent reportedly revealed his disappointment on internet networking site Twitter last night with a rant against Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.

Bruce admitted he was unaware of the Twitter but said he understood the player's irritation.

"Someone says Darren has been Twittering," Bruce told the Sunderland Echo today.

"I don't even know what that is, but I have seen a few things in the papers about it.

"Footballers aren't just objects. There's a human being in this who is obviously caught up in the middle and wants his future sorted out. The situation at the moment is that the clubs are still talking.

"We thought we had a deal done a couple of days ago and it has not quite materialised.

"We're still hopeful that we can agree a fee with Spurs, but at the moment there's a couple of other clubs showing an interest.

"We will do our utmost to get the deal over the line. I would say I was really confident that would happen a couple of days ago, but now I'd say it's 50-50."

Bent's Twitter account was this morning removed.

Bruce has had some success in the transfer market this summer, however, with Lorik Cana his most high-profile acquisition.

And the Albania international today revealed he turned down interest from Everton, as well as German sides Hamburg and Werder Bremen, to move to the north-east from Marseille.

He said: "I had interest from Germany and we were talking, but then I had contacts with clubs in England and I knew this was the best championship in the world.

"Everton know me very well. I have had interest from them in other years and might have come to England.

"We were talking, but Sunderland came in and I had a good feeling when I spoke to Steve Bruce.

"Sunderland wanted to make things happen quickly and that made me feel wanted by the club very much.

"I can see from the facilities and support that Sunderland has that there are great possibilities here so I look forward to the challenge."

Bruce has also been credited with an interest in Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh but is fuming at comments emanating from Les Girondins coach Laurent Blanc and president Jean-Louis Triaud that Sunderland were not a big enough club for the Morocco international.

He said: "I think it's insulting to us to say things like that. I wouldn't dream of saying that about any club.

"This is a big enough club for any player who wants to do well and we've a far bigger support than Bordeaux, so I'm not really sure where they're coming from."

Sunderland continue their pre-season programme at Celtic tomorrow.

New signings Fraizer Campbell and Cana are set to feature although Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon misses out once again.