Sunderland could head off on their tour to Portugal with no new faces on board as they refuse to be held to ransom in the transfer market.Chairman Niall Quinn and manager Roy Keane have spent the close season pursuing targets and attempting to negotiate deals with their clubs, but to date they have seen few tangible results.
Keane and his players are due to fly to the Algarve at the end of this week for friendlies against Sporting Lisbon and Vitoria de Setubal with the start of the new domestic season just a month away.
With Stephen Wright, Andy Cole, Stanislav Varga and Ian Harte having all been released and a series of other players told they can leave, the squad is thinner than the manager would like and the extra quality he hoped to recruit this summer is yet to arrive.
In addition, Kenwyne Jones' injury situation - Sunderland are yet to confirm the extent of the damage to his knee ligaments or his expected recovery period - has increased their need for a top-class striker.
The Black Cats have been linked with a list of potential signings which has grown almost by the day, although the perception that they have money to spend - Keane has hinted he could invest in excess of the £44million he spent of new players last season - has perhaps not helped.
Their long-standing interest in Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt appears to be waning with the relegated Royals holding out for at least the £5million they were offered for his services by the Wearsiders in January.
In addition, reports from Romania claim Steaua Bucharest want £4million for defender Dorin Goian, around £200,000 more than the figure already on the table amid fresh interest form Ukraine club Dynamo Kiev.
But after being accused of paying over the odds for their summer signings last season, Sunderland are adopting a pragmatic approach this time around and are sticking to their own valuations.
Keane has shown in the past that he is prepared to be patient to get his man - his dogged pursuit of Hearts' Craig Gordon last summer eventually proved successful, although he did eventually have to hand over a British record for a goalkeeper, £9million, to get him.
However, he has also shown himself willing to pull the plug on a deal if it is not right for the club, ending his efforts to persuade then Preston striker David Nugent to head for the Stadium of Light as the player stalled on making a decision.
Ultimately, the Irishman's shopping spree could come down to a game of brinkmanship as he waits for the sellers to blink first, although he knows the clock is ticking.
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Comment 1 - 3 of 3
same old story, same excuses and most probably the same struggle this season, the only difference is it will cost 15% more, to watch the same bunch of sh*te. who's being screwed now then mr R.K and N.Q.
One good thing that has come out of last season is that we are still in the EPL, The main mistake RK had made was to spend 9Million on C'Gordan. I know it's a team game and everyone has to pull there wait, But 9Mill on a goalkeeper was a mistake to say the least. This is the reason why RK and NQ are not spending crazy money on players now. Keano will need and will receive some QUALITY in, But at the right price.
The wafflur.
It looks as though the promised team re-building has stalled, and unless somme QUALITY players are brought in soon, it can only be another season of 'dancing on the trapdoor' with supporters holding their breath at the end of the season to see if the club can again retain their EPL status.
Every supporter knows what's needed, in the back four, in midfield - and the need for someone to strike fear into opposing defences (and the ball into the back of the net) is urgent.
If a midfielder is valued by his club at a paltry £200,000 more than SAFCs valuation, what's the problem. If RK has the money to spend, and the player is the right one £200,000 over the top is hardly being screwed. Although the club wil be unless new players are brought in soon.
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