Sunderland boss Steve Bruce will return to his desk to find himself thrust into a whirlwind of transfer speculation.
The 48-year-old interrupted a family holiday in Portugal to complete his move to the Stadium of Light from Wigan a fortnight ago, and immediately flew back out to recommence his break. However, he is expected back later this week when he will begin his recruitment drive in earnest having completed some of the groundwork during his time away.
Bruce has been promised the backing of new owner Ellis Short in the transfer market, and while talk of a £200million war-chest has been dismissed, it is understood he could have up to £50million to strengthen the squad he inherited from Ricky Sbragia and before him, former Manchester United team-mate Roy Keane.
The Black Cats have already been linked with a £10million bid for Tottenham striker Darren Bent, a £7million swoop for Wigan midfielder Lee Cattermole and a £5million approach for Manchester City defender Richard Dunne.
However, while it is understood there is interest in all three players, sources in north London have insisted there has been no formal contact over Bent, who is expected to leave White Hart Lane this summer. Cattermole has indicated his intention to see what prospective new Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has to say on his return from the European Under-21 Championships before making any decisions on his future.
In addition, Calum Davenport, who spent a successful spell on loan at Sunderland at the end of last season, has made no secret of his interest in securing a permanent move to the north east.
Comment 16 - 35 of 35
oi you never printed it all
OH IT`S ALL comming out now , SAFC in the prem and the mags in the fizzy pop league . now all the maggots are crying that loud i can hear it in TORQUAY. All the bull about , "there`s only one team in the north east "
@#$% you mags have created all this mess your selves, DEMANDING a say in who should be this and who should be that. YOU wanted KING kev , you got him, if only for ten minutes
Christopher Fool,
get back to school, you tool.
today is the very very very last time i promise final deadline for any club to prove they have the money to buy the skunks, however this final deadline may be moved again when they realise no one wants to buy the fickle fat black and white @#$% holes, your a club in disgrace fat muppett fans who are thick as pig @#$%, team of posers milking the fans ha ha ha who is your next messiah ANT AND DEC
hahahahahahahahahahahaha
i hope you go bust and get relegated you bunch of losers
mackems.....sold many £1 season tickets?? think your being ripped off myself!!
safcalsftm
my initial reply to JokeJo was obviously so tongue in cheek; you are just picking on me!
Anyway, you called me a sad old joke - pot and kettle methinks?
newcastle lengends....wor jackie,supermac,keegan,waddle,beardsley,gazza,shearer.. .mackem legends....er?rowell,ball......armstrong(judas)just about sums the 2 clubs up!
p.s Benfica and Athletico wow it's exciting being a black moggie right now,who's St Shearer got in mind I wonder . . Acrington Stanley and the Peterlee Harriers should be able to give your' want aways' a good run out ha ha
Camelot w (like it?) you and I both know it's not about how much money is spent it's the character and work ethic of the players that count.This couldn't have been illustrated better than by your bunch of over paid 'wild geese' last season.I tip Bruce to be shrewd and a little mean at first to get Quinn and Short on board after the horror spend of the 'Keane surrender machine' years.Honestly think an 11th,12th place finish next season is realistic.
Cameron (post 22), poor excuse. Never reply in kind, rise above it, ignore the post or give a side swipe response - that's what I endeavour to do. P.S. Enjoy the Championship, I'm sure after a few seasons it will grow on you.
John (post 24) we all have our off days, just getting a bit tense - I'm hoping and praying (even though I'm an Atheist)that the alleged imminent appointment of Shearer as top dog Skunk is not another one of our wind-ups. If you were to appoint some-one decent then there would be the start of a nagging doubt in my mind that you might get promoted. With him (and the illustrious Dowie, lets not forget his superb footballing tactical brain)in cahrge I can rest easy - you will remain a Championship side, unlkes the wheel comes off big time and League One beckons!
comment 21, I thought you were the master wind up merchant, look a bit on the ropes to me. Not on form tonight then.
Joke's on Jo:
i am so sorry, i owe you an apology; your wit was so quick that it passed me by . . .
. . . .'camerot', - yes very, very good - it's a new one so well done you, give yourself a right old pat on the back for being inventive!!
As for the 'w', yes i've heard them all before, but fair do's . . 'camerot' is very good!
safcalsftm
Jo the Joke started it!
I had thought (clearly going by his comments below, I was mistaken) that cameron w was one of that rare breed of Mags with whom you could have a decent bit of footie banter, winding each other up and having a laugh. I admit it it, he had me fooled for while but no more. He is clever though, he can talk through his @#$% instead of his mouth. Think I've realised what the 'w' stands for!! He's so dyed in the wool black 'n' white I bet he refuses to eat bacon or give blood. Saddo? Nah, just very, very, very jealous and the fact that the fixtures come out tomorrow, which will confirm that the fat lady is singing for Newcastle is just eating the poor bairn up. Almost makes you feel sorry for the TUGs!
jo the not so funny joke:
after you have 'done one', will you kindly get yourself a sense of humour and a chill-pill, oh and a dictionary to look up the word 'banter' while you're at it . . . . . ho, ho, ho!
Camerot, you're about as consistant as that defence of yours: is 'jo-joke' an insult or not? You also say that Sunderland's only good point is it's proximity to Newcastle....another insult? Your problem is you preach one gospel and live by another....I suppose one of your 'real football' people is the ever-vitriolic gob@#$%e Tony K. Ho ho
Forgive me jack, but if this man is as loaded as you all reckon, then surely you should be aiming for a Europa League place! If fulham and Everton get there on peanuts, then surely 'my dream job' BrucieBoy with all his 'i'm good in the market' nous will get you there. Face it jack, his problem is convincing them to move to such an unfashionable place; but then again, if safc are willing to pay silly wages then anyone will move there (just look at us!!). But do you want a bunch of mercenaries?
Jo the jOke:
is that all you can do, hurl insults!
Tsk, tsk - for your information, i come here to banter with real football people, not douchbags like you, so will you kindly . . . . . . do one Jokejo.
safsalsftmackems,,,,,,the mackems to play atletico,benfica,i suppose they can say they have played in europe!! have you ever seen a mackem in milan??.....or barcelona??........
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