Roy wants to start his spending in style

May 3 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

ROY Keane has indicated he will make the permanent signing of Jonny Evans one of his first priorities of the summer as he looks to launch his recruitment drive in style, writes LUKE EDWARDS.

Evans returned to Sunderland for a second loan spell in January after a similarly-successful temporary switch from Manchester United last season.

And although Keane is wary of upsetting anyone at his former club, least of all manager Sir Alex Ferguson, he knows the permanent signing of Evans would be a superb way to signal the club’s new sense of ambition. He said: “We had the same question last summer about Jonny but I would say to any player, and I’ve said the same to Jonny, if you have a chance to make a career at Manchester United then make the most of it.

“But if it became clear to us that he might be available, of course we would be interested – like many clubs. At this moment it has not been discussed because they’ve had games to prepare for and we’d had other things on our minds, but Jonny is the sort of player and the sort of character we are interested in.

“We’d love him at the football club but he is still under contract at Manchester United, and he is not our player, so we have to be respectful of that.” Keane knows the prospect of a successful career at Manchester United is an intoxicating one, but he also pointed to the fact Evans has become a better player at Sunderland because he is playing regular first-team football, rather than waiting for a rare chance to impress in the reserves.

And it is that argument which will be used to try to tempt the 20-year-old to sign for the Black Cats in the summer as he will not be guaranteed Premier League football if he does decide to return to Old Trafford at the end of the season.

Keane added: “He is a better player than he was last season, but he has had three or four months in the Premier League which is the only way for Jonny to improve. It’s hard for the young players at a big club because they don’t get much of a chance to play.

“Jonny has had the benefit of playing games, like he did in the Championship last season, but it’s been even better this season because it’s been in the Premiership. I think it has benefited both parties, but we’ll have to cross that bridge (making a bid) when we get to it. We won’t be doing anything for a few weeks.”

The suggestion inside the Sunderland camp is Evans is seriously considering a permanent move to Sunderland as he has developed a bond with the club and its supporters during his two loan spells. That affinity could help Keane land one of his top targets, although he knows the Black Cats will need to offer more than that to other potential signings, particularly when local rivals Newcastle and Middlesbrough pay higher wages than them.

As well as asking for a sizeable transfer kitty when he meets chairman Niall Quinn next week, Keane will be urging his fellow Irishman to change the wage structure to help lure top players to Wearside, as well as reward those who are already there.

He explained: “I would not say the wage structure has been a hindrance but I know we pay nowhere near what teams near here pay. I am not sure we have lost out on players because of the wage structure, I would not say it has cost me personally, but over the last 15 or 20 years, players have gone to other clubs in the area because of their wage structure.

“Look at the players who have been at Newcastle and Middlesbrough over the last few years. I don’t think Michael Owen is getting £20,000 a week, I don’t think (Gaizka) Mendieta, Juninho and (Afonso) Alves were, and I am sure (Alen) Boksic was getting decent wages.

“You want the top players, you have to pay them. We want to try to be in that market, but we know it is going to be tough. It takes time and you have to build slowly.

“I think we have made progress over the 20 months I have been here and now we want that to continue.”