Recently by James Hunter
STEVE Bruce faces further frustration in his attempts to bring yet more faces with him from Wigan Athletic after his former chairman declared Lee Cattermole not for sale.
Days after replacing Bruce as Latics manager, Roberto Martinez has made a midfielder his first signing.
But Latics chairman Dave Whelan is adamant that the arrival of Jordi Gomez from Espanyol will not be countered by Cattermole joining his old boss. With long-time Black Cats target Paul Scharner seemingly on the verge of signing for Europa League qualifiers Fulham for £6m, Cattermole's name might also have to be scrubbed off Bruce's shopping list.
SUNDERLAND have been linked with a move for Czech Republic midfielder Radoslav Kovac.
The Spartak Moscow man spent the second half of last season on loan at West Ham, but the cash-strapped Hammers have decided not to take up their option to buy the 29-year-old at the agreed £4m asking price.
West Ham may yet negotiate a lower fee for Kovac, who is also wanted by German side Hannover.
SUNDERLAND are considering joining Liverpool in the race to sign Portsmouth defender Sylvain Distin.
New Black Cats boss Steve Bruce is keen to strengthen his defence and has been looking at a range of options, including Manchester City's Richard Dunne, Newcastle's Sebastien Bassong and going back to his old club Wigan to sign former Newcastle man Titus Bramble.
And now another ex-Magpie can be added to the list, with Pompey's Sylvain Distin - who spent the 2001-02 season on loan at St James's Park from Paris St Germain - on Bruce's radar.
SUNDERLAND duo Dean Whitehead and Paul McShane are no longer on Hull City's wanted list.
The Tigers were keen to sign skipper Whitehead and centre-back McShane - who spent the first half of last season on loan at Hull - in January but their interest was rebuffed by Sunderland.
But with new boss Steve Bruce now installed on Wearside, a summer squad revamp is planned and that is likely to see fringe men such as McShane move on. And even established first-teamers such as Whitehead will not be immune to the shake-up.
STEVE BRUCE will make his competitive debut as Sunderland manager back in the North West at Bolton Wanderers.
The newly-released Premier League fixture list has handed the Black Cats a testing but not intimidating opening day date at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday, August 15, followed by a more daunting first home game of the campaign against FA Cup winners Chelsea three days later.
Sunderland then entertain Sam Allardyce's Blackburn on August 22 before rounding off the opening month of the season with a trip to Stoke City's fortress-like Britannia Stadium on August 29.
NIALL QUINN hopes Sunderland's yo-yo years are over for good.
The Black Cats chairman is looking forward to tomorrow's release of the Premier League fixture list for next season, and he wants to make sure Sunderland cement their place in that elite.
Sunderland avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth on the last day of last season but, backed with the financial muscle of new owner Ellis Short and with new manager Steve Bruce at the helm, Quinn hopes those nerve-wracking days are now at an end.
SUNDERLAND target Lee Cattermole will consider his future at Wigan when he returns from European Championship duty with England Under-21s.
The former Middlesbrough midfielder is understood to be the subject of a £7m bid from Sunderland, with new Black Cats boss Steve Bruce keen for Cattermole to follow him from the JJB Stadium to Wearside this summer.
With Roberto Martinez expected to be confirmed as the new Wigan boss any day now, one of his first decisions is likely to be whether to allow Cattermole to be reunited with Bruce at the Stadium of Light.
SUNDERLAND'S summer clear-out will continue when Steve Bruce returns from holiday later this month.
The Black Cats boss said when he was appointed last week that every player would start with a clean slate and he had not pre-judged any of the men he inherited.
That is certainly true of his first-team squad, and he will start the process of deciding who in that group he wants to keep and who he wants to sell when Sunderland return for pre-season training next month.
SUNDERLAND are one of a trio of clubs chasing Manchester City defender Richard Dunne.
The Republic of Ireland centre-back is expected to leave the City of Manchester Stadium this summer, and new Black Cats boss Steve Bruce is believed to be interested in bringing him to Wearside.
Spurs and Stoke are also in the hunt for the 29-year-old's signature but, with new owner Ellis Short at the helm, Sunderland have the financial backing to match any offer their rivals put forward.
DWIGHT YORKE could end up at Newcastle next season after being released by Sunderland.
However, the veteran Trinidad and Tobago midfielder will not be moving to Tyneside - he is wanted by Australian A-League side Newcastle Jets.
Yorke, who turns 38 in November, left the Stadium of Light this summer when his contract ran out, ending his three-year stint on Wearside.
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