Bruce: Weâll take it to the limit on deadline day
Published on Monday 29 August 2011 10:25
Sunderland will battle all the way to the transfer deadline to strengthen their squad this week, says manager Steve Bruce.
The transfer window close at 11pm on Wednesday and the Black Cats are looking at a host of options that could reinforce them up front.
Saturdayâs goalless Premier League draw against Swansea City will only have re-emphasised to Bruce that he needs further options.
And Niall Quinnâs absence from the game at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday was taken as evidence that the chairman is trying to make it happen.
Manchester Cityâs Craig Bellamy, Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner and Wolfsburgâs Patrick Helmes are all players Sunderland are looking at, although all are looking long shots at the moment.
Bellamy has been linked with Spurs and Liverpool, while Bendtner has been mooted as a potential makeweight in Arsenalâs interest in Everton midfield star Mikel Arteta â though the Liverpool Echo today reported that the Toffees would not interested in such a deal.
The name of Spursâ forward Peter Crouch has once again been thrown into the mix â possibly in a swap deal for Asamoah Gyan. Jermain Defoe is another Sunderland have been linked, too, though wages would be a sticking point.
But the one thing Bruce wants to do before the deadline expires is bring in a forward who can turn around Sunderlandâs fortunes in front of goal â accepting that the lack of goals is a concern after just one in four games so far.
He said: âWeâve brought in Ji and Wickham as players for the future â we were delighted to have the opportunity to get players of their potential in â but we wonât see the best of them for a year to 18 months.
âIn the meantime, we need a bit extra up front.
âIf weâre honest, weâve been lacking a bit in that department since Darren Bent left in January and we know that.
âSo weâll be doing all we can to bring someone in in the next few days â we just have to wait and see what happens and whether anything can be done.â
In the meantime, Bruce is having to put up with the frustration of seeing his team play well enough to win games but not be able to clinch them.
âWeâve had disappointments in the last three games, but weâve created enough in all three to win every one of those games.
âAll in all, it has been a frustrating and difficult and disappointing week.â
Published on Monday 29 August 2011 10:25
Sunderland will battle all the way to the transfer deadline to strengthen their squad this week, says manager Steve Bruce.
The transfer window close at 11pm on Wednesday and the Black Cats are looking at a host of options that could reinforce them up front.
Saturdayâs goalless Premier League draw against Swansea City will only have re-emphasised to Bruce that he needs further options.
And Niall Quinnâs absence from the game at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday was taken as evidence that the chairman is trying to make it happen.
Manchester Cityâs Craig Bellamy, Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner and Wolfsburgâs Patrick Helmes are all players Sunderland are looking at, although all are looking long shots at the moment.
Bellamy has been linked with Spurs and Liverpool, while Bendtner has been mooted as a potential makeweight in Arsenalâs interest in Everton midfield star Mikel Arteta â though the Liverpool Echo today reported that the Toffees would not interested in such a deal.
The name of Spursâ forward Peter Crouch has once again been thrown into the mix â possibly in a swap deal for Asamoah Gyan. Jermain Defoe is another Sunderland have been linked, too, though wages would be a sticking point.
But the one thing Bruce wants to do before the deadline expires is bring in a forward who can turn around Sunderlandâs fortunes in front of goal â accepting that the lack of goals is a concern after just one in four games so far.
He said: âWeâve brought in Ji and Wickham as players for the future â we were delighted to have the opportunity to get players of their potential in â but we wonât see the best of them for a year to 18 months.
âIn the meantime, we need a bit extra up front.
âIf weâre honest, weâve been lacking a bit in that department since Darren Bent left in January and we know that.
âSo weâll be doing all we can to bring someone in in the next few days â we just have to wait and see what happens and whether anything can be done.â
In the meantime, Bruce is having to put up with the frustration of seeing his team play well enough to win games but not be able to clinch them.
âWeâve had disappointments in the last three games, but weâve created enough in all three to win every one of those games.
âAll in all, it has been a frustrating and difficult and disappointing week.â
Good one Bobby!
