Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio is desperate to prolong his summer spending spree as he targets further signings during the remaining days of the transfer window.
The Italian has already brought 11 new faces into the Stadium of Light since the end of last season, but having seen his new-look side struggle to score goals in their opening two Barclays Premier League fixtures, is hoping the recruitment drive does not end there.
Striker Steven Fletcher is currently working his way back to match fitness after ankle surgery and his return will provide a major boost, but Di Canio is still without a specialist left-back and is keen to add a midfield enforcer to the ranks.
The Black Cats have been heavily linked with Swansea's South Korea international Ki Sung-yeung, and while the manager declined to name names as he prepared for Tuesday night's Capital One Cup second-round clash with MK Dons, he admitted he was keeping his fingers crossed.
Di Canio said: "I don't mention names, but it is obvious that someone has to join us in the next few days.
"We still have six, seven days. I don't want to lose my energy on this because we have a game tomorrow and a game on Saturday.
"The club is working, we know this, and I am waiting for the time that some players join us."
What transfer activity remains to be done on Wearside could depend in part on what happens with Benin international Stephane Sessegnon, whose future has been the topic of persistent speculation this summer with Sunderland understood to be willing to listen to offers for the man they signed from Paris St Germain for £6million in January 2011.
At his best, Sessegnon has lit up the Stadium of Light, but his inconsistency is a growing issue and he has made little impact in the club's opening league games, a 1-0 home defeat by Fulham and a 1-1 draw at Southampton.
However, asked about the 29-year-old, Di Canio said only: "I don't want to talk about him.
Source: PA
