Steve Bruce set to move for Spurs midfielder

Mar 8 2010 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

SUNDERLAND are preparing a summer bid for Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara – and hope to sign his Spurs team-mate Alan Hutton on a permanent basis if they win their battle against relegation.

With Steve Bruce having been assured his job is safe, the Black Cats are already preparing a list of targets for next season and O’Hara – in fine form during his season-long loan at Portsmouth – is understood to feature prominently.

Although the 23-year-old midfielder has been playing well at Fratton Park, Tottenham will sell him in the summer and Sunderland are leading a host of Premier League clubs vying for his signature.

Bruce is prepared to reinforce his squad with up to six new players this summer and knows he needs to beef up his central midfield options after being left short by suspensions and injures for most of this season.

Sunderland believe they could get O’Hara for around £1million, but know they have potential rivals in the form of West Ham, with Pompey also keen to sign him on a permanent basis if they can unravel the financial problems which have put the club’s future under threat.

If O’Hara has the option of West Ham, Sunderland face a fight to persuade him to come to the North East.

That has been a problem for recent Black Cats managers, but Bruce hopes that Darren Bent’s experience will help him to sell the club to the likes of O’Hara.

It is set to be another close season of upheaval on Wearside with Sunderland prepared to

listen to offers for first-teamers like Kenwyne Jones and Steed Malbranque if they can bring in reinforcements.