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Season shape-up - Sunderland

Image: Keane: No rush

Rob Parrish looks at how Sunderland are shaping up for the new Premier League campaign.

We look at how sides are gearing up for the new campaign

Wise men say only fools rush in, and Sunderland boss Roy Keane has clearly learned from his transfer market haste in previous seasons. Rob Parrish looks at how the Black Cats are shaping up for the new Premier League campaign.

What's happened so far

Keane has vowed to bide his time as he plans to re-shape his playing staff at the Stadium of Light, having admitted he spent far too much of last summer on the phone chasing players, agents and elusive deals. While there have been no new faces as yet at the Stadium of Light, Keane wasted little time in holding the exit door wide open and swiftly ushering out a selection of squad members who he felt had nothing left to offer the club. Andy Cole, Ian Harte, Stephen Wright and Stanislav Varga were told their services were no longer required in early June, while Greg Halford has signed a season-long loan deal with Sheffield United and reserve goalkeeper Marton Fulop looks set to join Stoke. Transfer-listed Ross Wallace has rejected the chance to join Preston, with Graham Kavanagh, Liam Miller and David Connolly all told that they are surplus to requirements. In truth, the players who have already departed and those who Keane is hoping to off-load contributed little to Sunderland's survival last season and were unlikely to help the North East outfit consolidate their position in the Premier League. Chairman Niall Quinn and the Drumaville consortium he heads are eager to establish Sunderland among England's elite and Keane, who enjoyed a trophy-laden career as a player with Manchester United, will not settle for scrapping against relegation on a regular basis. To that end, a striker tops the list of his summer requirements, with Tottenham's Darren Bent being regularly mentioned as a £10million target after failing to make any impact at White Hart Lane, while West Ham forward Carlton Cole and Sheffield United's James Beattie has also been mentioned. Serious concerns over powerful forward Kenwyne Jones' fitness, with a full prognosis on his injured knee ligaments still to be released, have increased the urgency for more fire-power on Wearside. Talented defender Jonny Evans enjoyed a second impressive loan spell at the Stadium of Light and Keane has made no secret of his desire to bring back the Manchester United youngster to bolster his back-line. A host of Irish players - Stephen Hunt, Kevin Doyle, Stephen Ireland, Damian Duff, Aiden McGeady and Richard Dunne - have all been linked with compatriots Quinn and Keane, and it would be no surprise to see at least one of those names in red and white by August.

What they need

In a word, goals. The Black Cats averaged under a goal per game in the Premier League last season, and that shortage of fire-power contributed heavily to them being embroiled in the relegation fight. If, as seems likely, Jones is ruled out for an extended period of time, then that would remove their key striking threat and make the summer signing of at least one forward absolutely essential. Greater creativity would be welcomed, but if Kieran Richardson and Carlos Edwards can stay fit after missing large chunks of last term through injury then it may not be necessary to dip into the transfer market. The January arrival of Evans from Old Trafford provided essential defensive stability and his return would enable Black Cats fans to fret less over who will be protecting Scotland international Craig Gordon in goal.

What they'll get

Bent and Cole are realistic targets for Sunderland but whether they - and their respective WAGs - can be persuaded to trade in Oxford Street and Harvey Nichols for The Bridges and Joplins remains to be seen. Beattie is likely to be tempted by a top-flight return, but the Black Cats may baulk at the reported £8million asking price for the one-time England international. Having proved his talents in the Premier League, Evans may be keen to fight for a first-team place at Old Trafford, but with Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Mikael Silvestre and Wes Brown all in his way, regular action in the North East, even for another season on loan, may appeal. Hunt has made no secret of the fact that he would rather be plying his trade in the Premier League next season, and Keane is unlikely to be put off by the fact that he had a number of bids for the Republic of Ireland international rejected in the summer.

Fan's view - Darren Dodd

Arguably, this is one of the most important seasons in the recent history of Sunderland. We have the chance to finally begin to lose our tag as one of a number of yo-yo clubs. Roy Keane had a great first year as Sunderland manager in winning the Championship and a good second year in maintaining our status as a Premier League club but now the hard work really begins. After spending £40million last season to keep us in the Premier League, Keane looks like he's going to have to do it all over again to not only maintain our top-flight status but to also kick on to the next level of mid-table safety. I would say that Keane needs to strengthen in a number of areas but the emphasis needs to be on quality rather than quantity. Defensively Jonny Evans would be a great buy if we can prise him away from Manchester United, although another season-long loan would do. I think the midfield needs more creativity and strength, Stephen Hunt from Reading may provide this. Up front the injury to Kenwyne Jones scares me and we are going to have to buy some good quality strikers. Kevin Doyle may be a possibility but I'm not convinced Darren Bent will make the trip up North. I would settle for finishing as top North East club. Bring on August, our destiny awaits!

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