Bruce aims to build round Bent

Black Cats boss has no need to sell prize assets

By Ben Collins   Last updated: 21st March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Bruce aims to build round Bent

Bruce: Won't cash in

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Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has issued a hands-off warning over his star players.

Darren Bent has been well worth the £10million Bruce splashed out on the former Tottenham striker last summer, putting himself in World Cup contention with 20 goals in 30 Premier League games this season.

Fellow summer signing Lee Cattermole has also impressed while Kenwyne Jones was heavily linked with a move to Liverpool in January, but Bruce has no intention of cashing in on his prize assets this summer.

The Black Cats boss was unable to hang on to his key men at former club Wigan, but with the backing of billionaire owner Ellis Short, he is hoping to improve his side year on year at the Stadium of Light.

"The advantage of having a wealthy owner and a sound financial base is that I'm under no pressure to sell," he told the Sunday Mirror.

Build team

"We want to build a team, not try to dismantle one. Our aim is to build a team around Darren Bent and the others.

"I knew at my last club Wigan that, unfortunately, I would have to break the side up and sell players such as Emile Heskey, Wilson Palacios and Antonio Valencia.

"Here, we've got an outstanding chance of keeping hold of our best players. That's a massive thing for me as a manager."

Bruce spent almost £30million last summer bringing Bent, Cattermole, Frazier Campbell, Lorik Cana and Michael Turner to Wearside.

Big signings planned

He is set to spend big again this summer but with Sunderland not yet assured of Premier League survival, he is yet to discuss exactly how much cash he will have at his disposal.

"We haven't sat down to talk about transfer budgets just yet - there's still work to be done this season," he added.

"The owner has been fantastic for the club and has put a lot of money in already, but there are still changes I want to make to the squad.

"I want to make two big signings this summer. Once we get the squad numbers right it is a case of topping up what we have with a couple of quality signings each summer."