Quinn tells Black Cats fans- Well pounce in the transfer market very soon and four Spurs players a
03 Jul 2009 - 13:59:19
Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has insisted the club is yet to show its hand in the summer transfer market.
The Black Cats have been linked with a lengthy list of potential targets in recent weeks with new owner Ellis Short ready to back manager Steve Bruce with a war chest of up to £50million.
Tottenham's Darren Bent, Robbie Keane, Didier Zokora, Tom Huddlestone, free agent Jermaine Pennant, Manchester City's Richard Dunne and Wigan duo Lee Cattermole and Titus Bramble are just a few of the men to have been touted as possible signings.
bent and keane
I hear Sunderland's nice this time of year: Tottenham duo Robbie Keane (left) and Darren Bent are reported targets
However, despite the likes of Michael Chopra and Greg Halford heading for pastures new, Bruce is determined to give the bulk of the squad he has inherited from Ricky Sbragia a chance to prove themselves as he finalises his shopping list.
Chairman Niall Quinn said: 'We haven't give up on any of our targets, but nor have we thrown our cards on the table to show our hand either.
'Steve has a few players that we would love to have, but he's very insistent on having a good look at what we have - and he's probably right.
'We have maybe got some players who weren't able to do well under a previous manager who might come alive, and suddenly you have got an asset you didn't realise you had.
'Rather than just trading for the sake of it, let's try to be intelligent and smart. We know what we need and where we need it.
'It's pretty obvious that Djibril [Cisse] has gone and that we need a centre-forward. That doesn't take a lot to work out. There are areas where we have to do something, but there will be an opportunity for others too.'
There has already been movement out of the Stadium of Light with Chopra's permanent return to Cardiff having come into force at midnight on Tuesday, while Halford is poised to join promoted Wolves.
But as the Wearsiders begin the process of attracting new signings, Quinn is convinced the club is now a more attractive proposition than in the past.
He said: 'The third year in, people are seeing us as a better option than they did in the first year. Then it was, "Ooh, we want to see some evidence".
'The second year, yes, we brought players in and looking back, we may have bought too many and maybe it upset the dressing room a little bit - but we did get some good ones.
'There's some fabulous talent in there and if we can harness it with a couple of steely characters coming in, it will give us a chance.
'Our manager gets what we are about, which is the most pleasing thing for me.'
