Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia is determined to keep his better players 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, 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.

He said: "I have had a brief chat with Ricky, but I want to have a longer conversation with him, and I'm just waiting to see what happens next.

"Maybe I will go, maybe I will stay.

"If I get more time on the pitch and am picked more for games, why shouldn't I stay? I would want to stay if that happened.

"But if I am not playing and the manager doesn't need me, I would want to go.

"I need to have a proper chat with Ricky and find out what his plans for me are.

"I need to see what he imagines me doing in the second half of the season."

Sbragia has his own targets - an experienced defender is at the top of his wishlist with the club only two points clear of the Barclays Premier League drop zone.

However, he may also look to add to his staff, with his own promotion having left a gap.

Sbragia, first-team coach Neil Bailey and veteran midfielder Dwight Yorke were asked to step in to lead the team in the wake of Keane's departure last month.

Sbragia is now turning his attention to the longer term after being appointed permanent boss, and that could mean further change.

The Scot said: "That has to be a consideration. The workload on Neil and I has got greater, so after the cup game, we are going to have another chat about Neil's position as well at the club.

"In general, there's a possibility that we will promote within for the short-term and see how that goes."

Meanwhile, 19-year-old full-back Michael Liddle's loan spell at Carlisle has been extended to a third month.

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