There are just ten days left before the transfer window slams shut for four months, and the Black Cats are in the hunt for another haul of players. Not content with the likes of Diouf, Tainio, Malbranque and Chimbonda, Roy Keane is looking to further strengthen his defence and attack to ensure that Sunderland cement their Premier League status and maybe even push towards the top half of the table.

The Guardian reports that the Irishman has targeted David Healy, Anton Ferdinand and Benni McCarthy as players he would like to bring in over the next few days. It appears that West Ham are willing to sell their central defender but it’s down to whether the player is prepared to move north. Surely landing McCarthy in attack would be something of a coup, with the South African capable of plenty of goals at this level.

Healy, who did not even make the bench for Fulham’s defeat at Hull City last Saturday, is not believed to feature in Roy Hodgson’s plans this season but Keane is desperate to augment his attack. Coincidentally Newcastle United, whose executive director, Dennis Wise, managed Healy at Leeds United, have also been considering a bid for a forward whose Premier League scoring ratio has failed to mirror his remarkable international strike rate.

Keane has talked to Anton Ferdinand about a move north but, despite an £8m fee being agreed between Sunderland and West Ham, the deal has been delayed by some late interest from Tottenham Hotspur. Ferdinand would prefer to remain in London.

Keane also retains an interest in McCarthy but Blackburn, who turned down a £9m bid for him last Friday from Sunderland, are reluctant to lose the South Africa striker.

It’s interesting to note that while Dennis Wise managed Healy at Leeds, he tended to use the player sparingly in the Championship, with United ending up on the relegation scrapheap. Can Sunderland pull off any of these deals, or will they have to now make do with their current squad?

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