Keane - Top four out of reach

Keane: In agreement with Keegan

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Roy Keane has agreed with Kevin Keegan's assessment that it will be very difficult for anyone to break into the Premier League's top four.

Keegan admitted this week that Newcastle were 'a million miles away' from challenging Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.

Sunderland boss Keane also believes there is a huge gulf between the best sides in the division and the rest, and has voiced the opinion that even clubs with £50million to spend this summer could only scratch the surface.

Asked if he agreed with Keegan, Keane said: "Of course, 100%. Kevin Keegan is a clever man, he knows the score, and I think everyone agrees with him on that.

"£50million wouldn't get you into the top four, nowhere near it.

"Anyone who disagrees with it doesn't know football."

Competition

Keane concedes that it is unrealistic for Sunderland to be thinking of breaking into the top four after just one season back in the Premier League, but he is looking to establish his side as a force to be reckoned with.

"I am certainly not looking to compete with the top four next season, but we want to be competing with the teams just ahead of us," he explained.

"We want to be up against the Man Citys and the Blackburns and even the Villas, trying to compete with them on a regular basis.

"We have done in a one-off game against them. We lost to Blackburn twice by the odd goal, City twice by the odd goal.

"You look at Middlesbrough, who have been in the league a lot longer than us - they are the teams we want to be certainly challenging more next season.

He added: "But the big four - not for another two years at least - no, not for a long time yet.

Keegan has also warned that the Premier League is in danger of becoming 'boring' if the current big four continue to dominate, although former Manchester United midfielder Keane does not necessarily agree.

Stronger

He said: "I don't think the Premier League is boring, but you do look at other countries.

"People are always critical of what goes on in Scotland, where it's always going to be Celtic or Rangers.

"But for the last few years and maybe the next few years, they are going to say you can only see two or three teams winning it (the Premier League).

"I don't think that's boring for Chelsea, Manchester and Liverpool and those teams who are trying to win championships.

"But it just makes it very, very hard for us because every year, they are in the Champions League and every year, they are getting an extra £20million, £30million, £40million that the other clubs aren't getting.

"It's obvious they are going to get stronger and buy the bigger and the best players."