Keane’s sights on six new signings

Jul 23 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

ROY Keane believes Sunderland could have made five or six new signings in the next 10 days after revealing the Black Cats have agreed personal terms with three of the four players they have had bids for accepted by Tottenham.

The Black Cats agreed a £23m joint fee for Steed Malbranque, Pascal Chimbonda, Teemu Tainio and Younes Kaboul last week and Keane is increasingly confident that at least three, if not all four, will be Sunderland players next season – despite Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp’s claim that Kaboul is on his way to Aston Villa.

And, while attention has focused on the Tottenham quartet, Keane also revealed the club have made bids for at least another two players in the last 48 hours.

Although concerns have mounted since the weekend that Sunderland were struggling to land their targets, their manager has indicated the delays are being caused at the Tottenham end as the players look to agree a severance package with the London club.

Players who do not ask for a transfer are normally entitled to a “loyalty” bonus when they sign for another club and, while one player – thought to be Malbranque – is continuing to ponder whether to accept a move to Wearside, the other three are believed to be happy with what they have been offered by the Black Cats and one or more deals could go through in the next 24 hours.

“We’ve got an agreement with Spurs and a few of the players,” said Keane, who has remained calm and collected throughout the drawn-out transfer process.

“We’ve virtually agreed personal terms with two or three of them, if not four. There are just a few loose ends to be tied up. I’ve been in the game long enough to know that these things can drag out a little bit, but in defence of Peter Walker (chief executive) and Niall Quinn (chairman), from our point of view it’s been full steam ahead.

“I’ve spoken to Peter and progress has been made, but (with) the amount of players we’re trying to sign from one club, there are going to be stumbling blocks.

“But I’m very hopeful, I have to say. The priority is to get it done, I wouldn’t get bogged down by the need for it to be done today or tomorrow, but hopefully we’ll have things in place by the weekend.

“First you have to agree with the clubs and then sometimes the players you are

buying have disagreements with the clubs they are leaving.

One or two of the issues we are facing are out of our hands, it’s between the players and Tottenham.”

Keane has also not ruled out the possibility that Sunderland could sign another Tottenham player this summer, with their interest in England striker Darren Bent ongoing.

The club are attempting to negotiate a fee for at least another two players, although the Irishman refused to reveal who the targets were as he does not want to upset the selling club.

He said: “We are in discussions regarding fees for one or two other players and that will be the case over the next two or three days.

“I would hope the Tottenham deals would be done by the weekend, and with the other couple of deals, I think we might have to be patient, possibly next week.

“It’s wrong to discuss players who are under contract. The four players we agreed a fee for are the only ones I should comment on. There are always question marks about these things.

“It could change in the next hour or two. They could be done by this evening. It would be nice to get medicals out of the way.”

Keane has deliberately taken more of a back-seat role in the transfer process this summer, handing a list of names to Quinn and letting him get on with trying to sign the players on it, having learned some valuable lessons 12 months ago, when was too personally involved.

However, he appears to have done his bit over the weekend when he finally met the Tottenham four.

And even if Malbranque does not head to the Stadium of Light – which would be disappointing because he is probably the most exciting potential signing of the quartet – Sunderland’s squad will have a much stronger feel.

Keane added: “I’m learning all of the time and these things take time.

“A lot is out of the club’s hands. Even before I came there were massive question marks about doing deals.

“The example of the last week, the hold-ups aren’t anything to do with us. Once the fee has been agreed there is still personal terms (to settle).

“When I left (Nottingham) Forest (for Manchester United) the deal took two weeks to sort out. I needed to look at the financial situation with Forest.

“I know it takes time. I know everyone is impatient, particularly the Sunderland fans, and I’m one of them. But I have to understand it will be worthwhile.”