Source: Northern_Echo
Bruce has his eye on Doyle
STEVE Bruce is pondering a summer move for Wolves striker Kevin Doyle, but the Sunderland boss will definitely not be offering John Mensah a return to the Stadium of Light.[LNB] Having discussed a number of attacking targets with chairman Niall Quinn, Bruce has assembled a short-list of around half-a-dozen names.[LNB] He is determined to sign at least two strikers this summer, and is keen for at least one of them to have prior experience of life in the Premier League.[LNB] West Ham striker Demba Ba does not feature on the shortlist, despite Wednesday's claims of an illegal approach for the African, but it is understood a move for Doyle is being seriously considered.[LNB] The Republic of Ireland international only scored five league goals last season, but his industrious displays played a crucial role in keeping Wolves in the Premier League.[LNB] Mick McCarthy will be reluctant to lose the 27-year-old, having shelled out £6.5m to sign him from Reading in June 2009, but the Wolves boss is keen to remodel his own squad this summer and could be forced to make sacrifices in order to recruit the players he wants to sign.[LNB] Bruce is not expected to make a formal move until he has had an opportunity to gauge the likelihood of completing a deal for a number of his other attacking targets.[LNB] The Black Cats boss has been linked with the likes of DJ Campbell, Craig Bellamy and Peter Crouch in recent days, and continues to harbour an interest in free agent Jay Bothroyd, who will not be re-signing for Cardiff City.[LNB] At the other end of the field, a remodelling process is already ongoing, and after two injury-hit seasons on Wearside, Mensah will not be making a third return to the Stadium of Light.[LNB] The Ghana international has returned to his parent club, Lyon, and his agent, Fabien Piveteau, is already looking at a range of options for next season.[LNB] Glasgow Rangers have expressed interest in John, but we are looking at other offers and taking into consideration the price tag before making a move, said Piveteau.[LNB] We have to sit with Lyon for a better deal for both parties. For now, we are just considering some factors before taking the next plan of action.[LNB] * Middlesbrough winger Tarmo Kink was on target as Estonia suffered a 2-1 friendly defeat to a representative team from the Basque Country.[LNB] After cutting in from the right flank and playing a neat one-two, Kink, who made just three Championship starts under Tony Mowbray, scored with a venomous 30-yard drive as Estonia slipped to a narrow defeat in Tallinn.[LNB]
