Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia is determined to keep his better players at the Stadium of Light as he builds the squad he wants.The 52-year-old has admitted there are likely to be departures as well as arrivals during the winter transfer window, but he intends to retain all the club's biggest names.
Full-back Pascal Chimbonda has been linked with a loan move to his former club Tottenham, while striker El-Hadji Diouf did little to quell speculation that he is a target for both Bolton and Blackburn after the 2-1 FA Cup third-round victory over Wanderers, who sold him to the Black Cats during the summer.
However, it is understood the Wearsiders have no interest in allowing Chimbonda to leave, temporarily or otherwise, while Sbragia insisted on Friday that the Senegal international remains part of his plans.
He said: "We have got a big squad - we have got something like 37 pros. We have a big squad, so it is very difficult to manage and keep them all happy.
"But the one thing we don't want to do is get rid of our better players."
Both Chimbonda and Diouf returned to the starting line-up at the weekend, for the first time since the 1-0 defeat at Manchester United on December 6 in Sbragia's first match at the helm.
However, the pair have struggled to establish themselves since losing their places under former boss Roy Keane, leading to rumours that they could both leave this month.
Chimbonda, who arrived from White Hart Lane in a joint deal with Teemu Tainio and Steed Malbranque, had previously been linked with French side Lyon, although his agent, Roger Boli, has revealed the potential move will not now happen.
Diouf, a £2.5million signing from Bolton, indicated at the weekend that he would be happy to stay on Wearside provided he becomes more involved.
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Chimbona and Diouf have to stay. They are both quality players. The most urgent thing (apart from getting rid of McShame permanently) is to strengthen the defence and finalise the transfer of Cisse, who is striking up a good working parnership with Jones. There are too many players in the squad, and I'd like to see at least 10 go this month, particularly O'Donovan and Healey plus at least one of the keepers (Ward or Colgan). A trimmer squad would cut the wage bill, release more cash for buying genuine quality players, and would not necessarily reduce competition for places.
we need to sign cisse full time,keep pascal also diouf he will start scoreing....
we need to keep pascal he has proved he can cut it with the rest. if harry want's him at tottenham then he has got what it take's.
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