Money no object for right man - Sbragia

Jan 9 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

RICKY Sbragia says there will be “no limit” on the amount he can spend during the January transfer window if he identifies players capable of strengthening Sunderland’s squad.

In the clearest indication yet that the Black Cats board are preparing to back their new boss heavily in the transfer market, Sbragia says that there has been no budget imposed on him during his search for a defender with Premier League experience.

But he has pledged to spend whatever funds are made available in a “responsible” manner – vowing not to be dragged into a bidding war for his top targets.

The Sunderland boss does not feel his squad needs a radical overhaul but is intent on strengthening during January, with the club having already tabled one bid for a defender.

Adding to his back four is a priority but Sbragia has ruled out a move for either Liverpool defender Sami Hyppia or West Ham United’s England international Matthew Upson.

Players in that mould are on Sbragia’s wish-list, however, and backed by money provided by the club’s multi-millionaire majority shareholder Ellis Short they can make an impact in the market.

“I have definitely got money to spend – I don’t think there is any limit to what I can spend. The money is there for me if there’s somebody I earmark, I’m confident of that,” he said.

“It’s no secret that we need defenders, in general with Premier League experience. We’ve earmarked one to buy but for some reason that I don’t know the prices seem to double for Sunderland.

“But we will put a bid in that we believe is a fair price and if it

goes will beyond that we won’t be interested.”

Asked about Hyppia, the boss admitted the club wouldn’t be able to offer him the European football that he would want.

“I would have thought he’ll be looking for something bigger – he’ll be looking at Champions League. At present neither him nor Matthew Upson are players we’re looking at,” he said.

The transfer window will provide an examination of Sbragia’s managerial credentials, with the newly-installed Sunderland boss having little time to compile a detailed wish-list of his targets.

“I could have done without it, it’s come too early for me,” he admitted.

“I want to see players if I’m bringing them in. I’ll never bring a player in blind because that reflects on me. I want to see him play.”

Speaking earlier in the week, chairman Niall Quinn pin-pointed Sbragia’s understanding of the economics of the game as one of the reasons for his appointment.

And Sbragia’s prudence was in evidence when he emphasised the need for Sunderland to sell as well as recruit during the January window.

The Sunderland boss has told six senior professionals that they should find other clubs to get their careers back on track – and believes a couple of deals may be pushed through by close of business tonight.

One of those players is believed to be Daryl Murphy, not included in Sbragia’s list of 20 players that he will not consider offers for.

“We have got too many professionals. It’s not a secret. It would help with the finances to get a few off the books but for them, they need to play football,” he said.

“I expect a bit of progress in the next few days. There may be one today and one tomorrow.

“The players should want to leave if they’re not getting football. I remember as a player being offered two years at Birmingham and asking to leave because I wasn’t playing. I went to a smaller club, Walsall, which was two divisions below but I wanted to play football. I didn’t want to train Monday to Friday and have nothing on a Saturday.”

HULL City boss Phil Brown has admitted interest in former Sunderland star Kevin Kilbane, but dismissed suggestions a deal for West Ham striker Luis Boa Morte is imminent.

The pair are among a number of players to have been linked with a move to the KC Stadium during the January transfer window. Brown said: “I am interested in Kevin, he has been a great part of Wigan’s success story and played Premier League football for a number of years.”