Bruce expecting market to heat up

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is expecting the transfer merry-go-round to slip into gear with the World Cup now over. The 49-year-old enjoyed a break while the tournament was under way, although still managed to complete the signings of Cristian Riveros, Simon Mignolet and Ahmed Al-Muhammadi before his squad's return for pre-season training last week. But now he is back and attempting to push home his interest in the club's remaining targets with Sol Campbell and Marcos Angeleri among his main priorities. Bruce said: "Birmingham have done one or two bits, Man City have done one or two bits, but it has been very quiet. "We have all watched the World Cup and basically had June off. It's starting now, by the phone calls we are having. Everybody is jostling for position and trying to get a few new bodies in, and I would think the work will start now. "But I think there has been a reality check right throughout the football world. The recession has hit the football industry as well because there is not a lot of cash swilling around at the moment. We will see what develops over the next few weeks."

Source: PA