Bent blames Joe Kinnear, saying the offer of £2m for the former £25m striker was an insult, but Alan Pardew says the player snubbed the club.
Alan Pardew, who claimed recently the forward opted for London because it was the “safer option”, thinks the ex-Black Cats front-man is likely to feel the wrath of the home support.
Despite Pardew identifying Bent as one of his preferred transfer targets this summer, Newcastle director of football Joe Kinnear was unable to strike a deal.
Pardew: “We made an effort to sign him and he chose not to come so I'm sure our fans will be pleased to see him!"
Fulham manager Martin Jol thinks Bent will be ready to make his mark on the Premier League again and rubbished Pardew's “safe option” jibe.
Martin Jol: “I really don't know what Pardew means.
“I feel he probably made the right decision because he knows that he is in our plans and that means he will play a lot of games.
"He knows he is an important part of my squad – otherwise I think he would have gone to Newcastle.”
The last time Bent scored at Newcastle was when Sunderland lost 5-1 on October 31, 2010.