Steve Bruce is aiming to increase firepower
Jan 30 2010 by Luke Edwards, The Journal
STEVE Bruce is hoping the capture of Manchester City striker Benjani will help compensate for another failed attempt to bolster his defence before the close of the transfer window.
Sunderland’s efforts to unsettle left-back Maynor Figueroa only succeeded in getting the Honduras international an improved contract at Wigan yesterday, while also angering Latics boss Roberto Martinez and chairman Dave Whelan.
Relations between the two clubs hit a new low yesterday, Whelan telling Figueroa he would never contemplate selling him to the Black Cats, or any other Wigan player, as Sunderland are not a big club.
That is likely to amuse – rather than offend – Bruce, who knows he has far more chance of turning Sunderland into a major force in English football than he ever did as manager of Wigan, but it does not disguise the fact the Black Cats are struggling in the transfer market.
A statement on Wigan’s official club website claimed Figueroa was the victim of “vicious and potentially damaging rumours” – with Martinez insisting the player “had never spoken” to him about wanting to leave, while expressing his delight at being able to “end all the silliness surrounding him”.
Asked whether he was guilty of double standards in his pursuit of Figueroa while simultaneously complaining about Liverpool’s attempts to unsettle Kenwyne Jones, Bruce denied any wrongdoing.
He said: “I believe we try to keep things out of the papers, but it is hard. We had only just had a bid accepted for Benjani on Friday and it was on the television a few minutes later.
