Source: Northern_Echo
Bruce looking to move players out Cats’ door
STEVE BRUCE has opened the door for more dealings in the transfer market before the end of the month after admitting that Sunderland will be looking to move more players on.[LNB] The Black Cats boss, whose side ended pre-season with a 3-1 defeat in Hoffenheim yesterday, hopes to have concluded successful negotiations with Manchester United by the end of the week to seal the season-long loan signature of striker Danny Welbeck.[LNB] Bolton, Blackpool and Wigan remain interested in luring Welbeck, who spent last season at Preston, but Sunderland are confident of pulling off a deal.[LNB] Even if United do give their hot prospect the goahead to leave, however, Bruce will continue to look at the market for other potential arrivals.[LNB] He has, though, been told he will have to be frugal with what cash he has available after landing five players already this summer, with John Mensah also close to completing his loan switch. Bruce hinted he will be listening to offers for a number of his players between now and August 31.[LNB] Anton Ferdinand, George McCartney and Phil Bardsley are the three most likely to be sold.[LNB] I have to balance the books somehow, said Bruce, who expects to let Matt Kilgallon go on loan to Middlesbrough this week.[LNB] In football there is a bit of a reality check and it's not all about bringing people in. I have to wheel and deal to bring people in and balance the books.[LNB] That's in my mind. Part of my job is to make sure the figures work too. There's been interest from a few clubs in a few of our players but nothing too much. No real written offers at the moment.[LNB] Once he has raised some finance Bruce suggested he would be looking to make the most out of the new 25- man squad rule by targeting the bigger clubs with big pools of players to choose from. It is with that in mind that he has looked at Welbeck, while Manchester City's £8m-rated defender Nedum Onuoha is also being monitored.[LNB] With the 25-man squad rule now as it is, there's a few clubs that can be looked at, and Manchester City are one, said Bruce. It's our job to look at the big clubs because they have bigger squads. Tottenham are another one too. They have big squads and when that is narrowed down to 25 then you have to have a look.[LNB] Sunderland expect to be in a position to confirm the arrival of Mensah for a second season in the next few days, once his visa has been granted. And Lyon revealed that the terms of the agreement mean Sunderland will pay £416,000 up front and a further £4.5m if the deal becomes permanent once he has played 25 games.[LNB] Sunderland might prefer to take up the option before April 30.[LNB] Bruce will be looking for Mensah to shore up a defence that leaked three goals in yesterday's friendly with Hoffenheim.[LNB] Josip Simunic's brace put the Bundesliga club two-up at half-time before Jordan Henderson pulled one back with an excellent free-kick after the restart. Prince Tago added a third for Hoffenheim to reclaim a two-goal cushion and Bruce was just satisfied he had no injury concerns.[LNB] International commitments this week did alter his thinking with his selections, wit Henderson and Ahmed Al-Muhammadi only coming on after the break. Darren Bent, named in the England squad for this Wednesday's friendly with Hungary, was taken off at the half-time.[LNB] Bruce, whose side open their Premier League campaign at home to Birmingham on Saturday, said: I'm glad pre-season is over, we've got through it and the real ball comes out next week when it will be a lot, lot different.[LNB] SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Mignolet; Bardsley, Bramble, Da Silva, Richardson; Campbell (Weir 82), Cattermole (Cook 76), Zenden (Colback 46), Malbranque (Henderson 46); Bent (Waghorn 72), Jones (Al-Muhammadi 46). Sub (not used): Wilson.[LNB] HOFFENHEIM (4-5-1): Starke; Beck (Ibertsberger 46), Compper (Eichner 59) Ba (Tagoe 59), Eduardo (Weis 46); Simunic (Kaiser 72), Mlapa (Thomalla 72), Ibisevic (Vukcevic 46), Gustavo, Salihovic (Gulde 72); Vorsah (Raitala72). Sub (not used): Haas.[LNB]
