Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier has claimed he is "an easy target" for Steve Bruce and Ian Holloway because he is a foreign manager.
Bent has moved to Villa for £18million while Villa have had two bids rejected by the Tangerines for skipper Adam.
Frenchman Houllier is adamant there has been no wrongdoing on his part - or by Villa - in dealing with either club.
But, when suggested to Houllier that Bruce and Holloway should make an official complaint if they had a genuine grievance, he said: "Exactly, exactly. Good point, good point.
"But don't worry, I'm a foreign manager. I'm an easy target."
Houllier remains puzzled as to why Bruce has been so scathing in his criticism of him, particularly as regards having no personal contact.
He said: "When there's a transfer at that level, it's done between chairman and chairman at least or owners and owners or chief executives.
"Paul Faulkner (Villa chief executive) kept me informed every step of the way.
"I would assume that Niall Quinn (Sunderland chairman) would have done the same with Steve Bruce, unless he doesn't tell the truth or someone doesn't tell the truth.
"If I go and tell Steve 'I want to buy your player' he'll go out and be vocal and say 'this is scandalous.'
"We did things right. They had the facility to say 'no.'
"If I want to buy your house, and you don't want to sell, you just say 'no' whatever the price.
"But if you don't say 'no' and you accept the bid, what can you do? What has Gerard Houllier got to do with that?"
Houllier admitted: "When I heard it (Bruce's comments) first of all, I thought it was not gracious.
"Our club has been more gracious in a previous situation (with transfers).
"I thought 'hang on a second, why is he having a go at me?' Is he trying to protect himself from his fans?
"All he has got to do is say 'this is football now.' He has made transfers before.
"I'm not a cuplrit in any way. If he feels that, well, I feel sorry for that. I was kept informed, I assume he was kept informed."
Houllier insists his conscience is also clear regarding Villa's bid to sign Adam from Blackpool.
He said: "We did the right thing, we went to the club, we didn't go to the player and, funny enough, it came out from their side.
"There was nothing from Aston Villa, and he (Holloway) said we are insulting him and the player and God knows what.
"Would I do the same again? Exactly. Things have changed now.
"I knew there used to be a time when a manager would call another manager and say 'I will buy your player for so much money'.
"Now you are not the owner any more, the club is a different entity. You've got to live with your time."
