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By Simon Hart
LONDON, July 31 (Reuters) - England midfielder David Bentley hopes to take his game to the "next level" after completing a 15 million pounds ($29.74 million) transfer from Blackburn Rovers to Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs could eventually pay as much as 17 million pounds for the former Arsenal trainee who has signed a contract of up to six years, according to a club statement on Thursday.
Bentley, who won six caps during his time at Blackburn, said he was confident of making further progress under his new manager.
"(Juande) Ramos is someone who is going to get the best out of me," the 23-year-old told a news conference. "I have seen what he has done with the other lads, I spoke to the other players before I came here.
"I think he can develop my game and push me on hopefully to the next level."
Bentley joined Blackburn in 2005 via a loan spell at Norwich City. He had previously made one Premier League appearance for Tottenham's north London rivals Arsenal.
The boyhood Spurs fan is keen to help his new team build on their League Cup title triumph last season.
'GREAT MANAGER'
"We can do anything we want, anything we put our minds to," said Bentley. "We have a great manager, you saw what he did last year.
"The fitness and the level of player at Tottenham has risen and I want to be part of that. This season hopefully we will continue progressing."
Spaniard Ramos said: "He is a very skilful, technical player with a great touch, and tactically and strategically he will bring a lot to the team."
Bentley's arrival continues a busy close season of transfer activity at Spurs, who confirmed on Wednesday the departure of French midfielder Steed Malbranque to Sunderland.
Spurs sold captain Robbie Keane to Liverpool earlier this week but Ramos has also recruited Croatia playmaker Luka Modric, Mexican teenager Giovani dos Santos and Brazilian goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.
Further activity may follow with media reports linking the Londoners with Russia forwards Andrei Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko amid ongoing uncertainty about the future of Spurs striker Dimitar Berbatov.
