Source: Northern_Echo
Cats in negotiations to strengthen strikeforce
WITH only three days left before the transfer window closes, Steve Bruce has revealed he is close to signing a much-needed replacement for striker Kenwyne Jones.[LNB] The Black Cats boss revealed yesterday that chairman Niall Quinn is working tirelessly behind the scenes and is in negotiations to bring a top striker to the club before the deadline passes.[LNB] Danny Welbeck has already joined the ranks at the Stadium of Light, but Bruce is still keen to add an experienced forward to his squad in a bid to ease the pressure on the club's main goalscorer Darren Bent.[LNB] The Sunderland boss has continually been linked with a move for Rennes' Ghana international Asamoah Gyan, who scored three goals at this summer's World Cup, and West Ham's Carlton Cole, and while he admits the club will not pay over the odds, he hopes a deal can be struck in time.[LNB] We are close to one, said Bruce. I believe the chairman is working extremely hard, so fingers crossed we can get the deal done before Tuesday.[LNB] Niall's been very persuasive.[LNB] I know with the World Cup bid (England 2018) he's been the star attraction, which I hope he can be for me.[LNB] I know he'll try his best to get it over the line for us and we are in discussions as we speak, but one thing I won't do is pay inflated prices, it's just crazy money.[LNB] I've said it before, the main thing for me was to replace Kenwyne, but it's a difficult market and of course we've got to get the right one in.[LNB] It would certainly be a big addition for us if we could possibly make it happen.[LNB] It was a big call to sell Kenwyne, but obviously the one thing we need is a replacement.[LNB] We were close a week ago but it didn't materialise.[LNB] Interestingly, it is over a year since Sunderland last won a game in which Bent didn't score and Bruce admitted the club should not over rely on the 26 year-old, making it even more important a deal can be done to bring another forward man to the club.[LNB] I don't think any manager likes to gamble, especially with the transfer window as it is, he said.[LNB] If we don't get a striker in we are gambling a bit and it's unfair to rely on young players like Welbeck or (Martyn) Waghorn and Frazier Campbell, who's not much older.[LNB] God forbid if something ever happened to Darren. We only have young lads in reserve.[LNB] It is not an ideal scenario to think about, I just pray he doesn't get injured.[LNB] Despite his disappointment at not being included in Fabio Capello's World Cup squad, Bent has bounced back well for his club, scoring three goals this season, and Bruce hopes the former Spurs and Charlton striker can repeat his 25-goal return last term.[LNB] I would be very happy if he can score 25 goals again and that's why I bought him, he said.[LNB] Everyone has been telling me that he hasn't looked this or that, but he has three goals already so he is up and running.[LNB] We knew when we brought him that he would be so vital to us.[LNB] He's done it wherever he's been Spurs, Charlton and he did it with us last year and we hope he can again, but we need to give him a hand.[LNB] Yesterday, also brought the news that Wigan Athletic had accepted an improved offer from Birmingham City for winger Charles N'Zogbia.[LNB] The new offer, rumoured to be about £9m, was described by the Latics as a bid that met their valuation of the player and the Frenchman will now try to agree terms with Birmingham.[LNB] Bruce has always been an admirer of the former Newcastle winger, after signing him for Wigan back in 2008, and was interested in bringing the player to Wearside but was not prepared to pay over the odds.[LNB] I have always tried to get decent value for money and it seems now there is a market which has become ridiculous,[LNB] he said. I would have loved to have brought him here but the price was just too much.[LNB]
