Sunderland

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Sunderland are interested in Fulham attacker Hameur Bouazza. The Algeria international is being tracked by the Black Cats and could become available if Fulham fail to beat the drop.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Roy Keane is ready to raid Newcastle United for winger Damien Duff. Keane believes he can coax the 29-year-old back to his past levels and is ready with a bid of around £4m.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Sunderland is planning an £8 million bid for West Ham striker Dean Ashton. The People says Ashton, 24, was wanted by Newcastle under the club's previous managers Sam Allardyce and Glenn Roeder, but Kevin Keegan is now happy with his strikeforce, leaving Sunderland in the box seat to snap up the England hopeful.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Boro in need of home comfort as they search for win to guarantee safety
Sunderland 3 Middlesbrough 2

Three months ago, when Kevin Keegan was appointed at Newcastle and Roy Keane signed Andy Reid, Jonny Evans and Phil Bardsley to shore up his Sunderland team, Gareth Southgate's Middlesbrough were sitting comfortably.

Now, with two games to go, both at home, it is Middlesbrough of that north-east trio who need one more win to be guaranteed Barclays Premier League football next season.

Southgate's side have won just two of their last 12 - and they were against Derby and Fulham - but they host FA Cup Finalists Portsmouth on Saturday, knowing that Harry Redknapp's men will have one eye on Wembley, and then welcome Manchester City on the final day.

Tuncay Sanli and Afonso Alves scored for Boro but their partnership is in its infancy and this is only the seventh time this season Boro have scored two goals in a League game. And it still wasn't enough.

Tuncay slotted under Craig Gordon in the fourth minute but that lead lasted 93 seconds before Danny Higginbotham was left unmarked to head in Danny Collins' cross.

Sunderland took the lead on the stroke of half-time as Michael Chopra delivered revenge for David Wheater's flailing elbow which bloodied his mouth when he beat the centre half in the area and drilled the ball past Brad Jones.

Jones did make a crucial save from his namesake Kenwyne after the break, and again stopped Chopra as Sunderland threatened to take the game away.

When Alves scooped Julio Arca's shot past Gordon on 73 minutes, a draw looked certain, but Daryl Murphy's towering header from Grant Leadbitter's corner three minutes into injury time brought victory for the home side.

It also meant Sunderland have crucially secured nine points from goals in the last five minutes of matches.

While Julio Arca was pleased to see his old club secure another season in the top flight, he knows there is a lot of work ahead to ensure Boro are not dragged into the bottom three.

He said: "It hurts losing that game. It's so disappointing. It's our fault again, losing concentration. It has happened a lot recently. That's why we are so angry.

"There's nothing we can do about it now. We have to look to Portsmouth next week and hope everything will be all right."

What Southgate would give for Sunderland's home record. They have taken 30 points at the Stadium of Light, which was again close to bursting point, while Middlesbrough have lost to Reading, Bolton, Blackburn, Aston Villa, West Ham, Everton and even Cardiff on Teesside.

This is such a big week for Southgate, his players, and Boro fans who have turned out in times of success but stayed away in their thousands in times of mediocrity.

"They could make the difference," said Southgate. "We need an energy in the stadium and we need that support. We have to produce a performance but every bit will help over the next couple of weeks.

"We have to make it an advantage playing at home. We play two teams capable on their day of getting results so we have a big challenge ahead of us.

"This is not the stage for us to be falling out of love with each other. We've stuck together throughout the season and some players will learn a lot about themselves in the coming days and weeks."

Chances are the musical Andy Reid got his guitar out as he celebrated Sunderland's survival on Saturday night. The Ireland midfielder has been outstanding since his switch from Charlton.

Reid said: "It is brilliant for the fans, the players, the manager and chairman. Now we can look forward to next season and hopefully not looking at a relegation battle. That has got to be the aim.

"I came to this club a few times before I joined and when you look at the stadium and the training facilities, you don't need anyone to tell you this club does belong in the Premier League."


SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Gordon 7; Whitehead 7, Nosworthy 7, Higginbotham 7, Collins 6; Edwards 5 (Leadbitter 60min, 6), Miller 7, Richardson 6, Reid 8; Chopra 6 (Murphy 85), K Jones 7. Booked: Richardson, Chopra, Whitehead.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): B Jones 4; Young 6, Wheater 6, Pogatetz 5, Taylor 6; Cattermole 5 (Rochemback 57, 5), Boateng 7, Arca 7, Downing 5; Tuncay 6, Alves 5. Booked: Wheater, Pogatetz.

The Daily Mail

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Sunderland boss Keane wants £50m backing before he signs new deal

Roy Keane wants the guarantee of a £50million budget from chairman Niall Quinn and his Irish backers before he signs a new deal as Sunderland manager.

Keane and his solicitor Michael Kennedy are preparing to discuss a fresh contract after Sunderland secured their Barclays Premier League status on Saturday.

The manager, who still has a year on his contract, has already spent more than £40m since taking over, but wants to strengthen to avoid another relegation battle.

He said: "I didn't ask some questions last summer because I'd only been a manager for two minutes and I'd achieved nothing. Now I might say: 'Are we ready to go to the next level?'

"I believe we are and, if that's the case, I'll have a look at the contract situation.

"When I took the job, they wanted me to sign a five-year contract, but I said 'no chance'.

"I've never signed a five-year deal in my life, but three would be appealing. I'd sign three now."


Sunderland boss Roy Keane hopes his new deal will include a healthy transfer kitty

The Daily Mail

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn is ready to meet Roy Keane's transfer budget demands. The Sun says Quinn will back Keane's £80million Sunderland revolution.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Roy Keane is launching a bid for Manchester City midfielder Simon Ireland. Ireland - who would cost around £8m - is a fan of Keane and had posters of the former United captain on his bedroom wall when he was growing up in Cork, says the Manchester Evening News.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Roy Keane wants to bring George McCartney back to the club. Sunderland lack strength in depth in that position and the possible signing of Reading's Nicky Shorey by West Ham will allow McCartney to return to the Stadium of Light.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Roy Keane is chasing Newcastle United winger Damien Duff. The Daily Mail says Keane is hoping for backing from the Sunderland board to lure Duff away from their great Northeast rivals.

Celtic winger Aiden McGeady is also on Keane's shopping list, along with Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Roy Keane is on the brink of inking a new contract with Sunderland. The Daily Mail says Keane is on the verge of signing a four-year contract. Keane, who has a year left on his existing deal, hopes the board will stump up the cash for a summer transfer spree.

[Lemmy]

Former Sunderland goalkeeper Tim Carter has been found dead in Manchester.

The body of the 40-year-old, from County Durham, was discovered in bushes by a passer-by in the Highfield Close area of Stretford, Greater Manchester.

Emergency services were called, and he was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics at midday on Friday.

The death of Mr Carter, recently appointed as Sunderland Academy goalkeeping coach, is not being treated as suspicious, according to police.

He played 50 games for the Black Cats, between 1987 and 1992, and had been the first-team goalkeeping coach before the arrival of Raimond Van Der Gouw in summer 2007.

Mr Carter also coached the goalkeepers in Estonia's national side on a part-time basis.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said a post-mortem would be carried out in due course.

Carter started his career at Bristol Rovers and also played for Hartlepool, Millwall, Oxford and Halifax.

BBC NEWS | England | Ex-Sunderland keeper found dead

[Lemmy]

Tottenham defender Pascal Chimbonda has confirmed he is keen to leave White Hart Lane and join Sunderland after meeting Black Cats boss Roy Keane.

The 29-year-old arrived at Spurs from Wigan in August 2006.

"I travelled to meet Keane on Saturday at Sunderland's training ground. I was extremely impressed with what he had to say," said Chimbonda.

French international full-back Chimbonda joined Wigan for £500,000 in 2005 from French club Bastia.

Chimbonda added: "Keane's honesty and openness really were fantastic and I particularly like the plans he has for Sunderland. The opportunity excites me and I hope he was impressed with what I had to say."

Three other Spurs players are also being targeted by the Black Cats.

It is understood that Steed Malbranque, Younes Kaboul and Teemu Tainio are due in the north-east for talks.

Sunderland reached agreement with Tottenham on Thursday to give them permission to speak to the quartet.

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Sunderland | Sunderland close in on Chimbonda

[Lemmy]

Sunderland boss Roy Keane has revealed he is hoping to conclude the signings of four Tottenham players this week.

Reports suggest Spurs quartet Steed Malbranque, Younes Kaboul, Teemu Tainio and Pascal Chimbonda have been targeted by the Black Cats in a deal worth £23m.

And Keane told the club website: "We've worked hard and everyone knows I spoke to players this weekend. It went well.

"There are still one or two loose ends to be tied up at the Spurs end but hopefully it won't drag on too long."

The former Republic of Ireland and Manchester United midfielder added: "I'd like a few positive decisions over the next couple of days but I have to say I was very impressed with the four players when I met them and we look forward to the news over the next few days.

"I have to say the club has made some very good offers and fingers crossed we get across the finishing line."

It was revealed on Tuesday that France under-21 midfielder Kaboul, who has also been linked with Portsmouth, is expected to make a decision over the club's offer in the next 24 hours after holding talks with Keane on Saturday.

"Younes was very impressed with Roy Keane when he met him, especially with his vision for Sunderland Football Club," said his agent Rudy Raba.

"He was also very impressed with the city, stadium and facilities which, to be fair, are second to none."

Defender Chimbonda confirmed over the weekend that he is keen to leave White Hart Lane for Sunderland.

The 29-year-old, who arrived at Spurs from Wigan in a £4.5m deal in 2006, said: "I travelled to meet Keane on Saturday at Sunderland's training ground. I was extremely impressed with what he had to say.

"Keane's honesty and openness really were fantastic and I particularly like the plans he has for Sunderland. The opportunity excites me and I hope he was impressed with what I had to say."

Former Fulham midfielder Malbranque also joined Spurs in 2006, defender Kaboul arrived from Auxerre in 2007 and midfielder Tainio was signed from the same French club in 2005.

Sunderland reached an agreement with Tottenham on Thursday that gave them permission to speak to the quartet.

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Sunderland | Spurs quartet set for Sunderland

[Evertonscouser]

SkySports:

Sky Sports News understands Bolton Wanderers forward El Hadji Diouf is undergoing a medical at Sunderland.

The Senegal international, who signed for The Trotters from Liverpool in 2005, has been linked with a transfer away from the Reebok Stadium this summer.

A fee believed to be in the region of £2.5million has reportedly been offered by Sunderland as head coach Roy Keane looks to bolster his squad ahead of the new term.

Bolton manager Gary Megson confirmed on Sunday the club have received interest in the 27-year-old, whose current contract is due to expire at the end of the coming season

Good player. But I hope Keane knows what he is letting himself in for with the likes of Diouf and Chimbonda's attitudes.