Keane turns to Continent for signings
Aug 1 2008 by Mark Douglas, The Journal
ROY Keane will cast his net beyond the Premier League as he looks to tie up at least one more new signing before this weekend’s prestige friendly with Dutch giants Ajax.
The Sunderland manager is yet to utilise the improved European scouting network that he asked the club’s power brokers to finance after the club’s struggles in the transfer market last summer, but that may change in the next 48 hours.
Keane was not at the club’s training ground yesterday and, with the manager appearing to suggest that two more players will be added in the near future, further transfer business was likely to be at the forefront of his thinking.
Croatia striker Mladen Petric and giant Serbian target man Nikola Zigic has been linked but the next signing may well be Celtic defender Bobo Baldé, the Guinea international surprisingly earmarked to provide competition for Nyron Nosworthy and Danny Collins in the back four.
The 32-year-old has been interesting Wolves, Ipswich and Birmingham but Keane, who knows the defender from his short spell at Parkhead, sees him as possible back-up in an area where he needs to strengthen and has held talks with the former Toulouse stopper.
Jonny Evans remains the number one target for Keane in that area and there is believed to have been contact made between Sunderland and Manchester United over a possible third loan deal.
However, the Black Cats – like a whole host of other clubs who have enquired about the young Irishman – have been told that United are in no hurry to release a player who has replaced Gerard Piqué in the position of defensive understudy.
Keane certainly needs a defender and a striker before concluding his summer recruitment drive, with a forward to replace Kenwyne Jones a key purchase if he is to retain the 4-5-1 formation used in the pre-season campaign.
While the Sunderland manager wants a new target man to help spearhead his attack, Daryl Murphy has been used extensively in that role and has been earmarked for a major part in his plans for next season.
Keane’s loyalty to the forward was further emphasised yesterday when Murphy (pictured above, left) signed a one-year extension to his contract, tying him to the Black Cats until 2012.
A delighted Murphy said: “I’ve always wanted to stay here and it’s nice to get the extension.
“It’s a big club, the supporters are great and we’re going in the right direction. It’s a different club to the one I joined three years ago.”
While Murphy has signed on, it appears increasingly unlikely that compatriot Stephen Hunt – persistently linked over the summer with a move to the Stadium of Light – will join him.
The Reading man has reiterated his determination not to agitate for a move away from Reading, and with Keane now apparently well stocked in midfield the move has lost all momentum. “There has been a lot of speculation but that’s all it is,” Hunt said. “I want to get back in the Premier League, but if I stay here then I will work my butt off to get Reading back in the top flight.
“There are boundaries you can cross to get out of a football club, but I won’t step over that line. I am not looking to cause trouble, I will just work hard. I live in a great area and I get paid well to do a job I love. It’s a great life.”
Hunt has a family reason to remain a Royal, Reading having signed his younger brother Noel from Dundee United last week.
Keane’s other pressing priority is to sell some of the fringe players who are unlikely to come close to his first team next season.
The likes of Graham Kavanagh, Russell Anderson and Rade Prica all remain on the wage bill, which Keane has admitted needs to be pruned after his lavish spending so far this summer.
One player who is leaving the Stadium of Light is Ross Wallace, who has joined Preston on loan with an option to make the move permanent in January.
Next on his way may be Dickson Etuhu, who is interesting Rangers after Sunderland informed them that the midfielder is available for £3m.
