"We will just have to wait and see what happens, whether there is interest in him and if there are clubs out there who are prepared to make offers. We don't want to lose Darren but we hear what he is saying. However, it is still very early days."
Bent's contract at Portman Road expires in June 2006 and even before the transfer request from Town's top scorer, it was widely expected Bent would leave Town this Summer so the Blues could get a decent fee for the striker rather than having it decided by a tribunal when his contract runs out.
Midfielder Tommy Miller who is out of contract next month is also being linked to Sunderland, and Royle knows it will be a big blow to lose both: "If we were to lose Darren and Tommy, you are talking about a 34-goal gap that we would need to plug and I would want to do it sooner rather than later."
Previously Town had indicated that Miller would be offered a new deal for next season, an offer which still stands. However a move to Sunderland and the Premiership on a free transfer may prove attractive for Miller who has recentley put his home on the market.
Meanwhile Fabian Wilnis, Drissa Diallo, Jim Magilton and Shefki Kuqi, all out of contract in June 2005 are currentley in talks with the club over where their future may lie.