Recently by Stuart Rayner

SUNDERLAND have been served warning that disposing of unwanted squad members could prove difficult after pricing Anthony Stokes out of joining Hibernian.

Phase two of the Black Cats' clear-out got under way yesterday with official confirmation of Michael Chopra's departure to Cardiff City. But Sunderland's refusal to let Stokes return to the Scottish Premier League on another loan has scared off a club who rate the Republic of Ireland international highly but can not get close to matching his wages.

It could become something of a theme as manager Steve Bruce's attempts to prune his squad are hindered by the generous wage policy of the Drumaville era.

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STEVE Bruce will this week step up his attempts to sign Lee Cattermole and Fraizer Campbell now the pair's seasons have finally come to an end.

Both were part of the England Under-21 squad which reached the final of the European Championships in Sweden on Monday.

Bruce signed midfielder Cattermole for Wigan last summer and came close to landing forward Campbell on loan. Both are thought to figure prominently on his shopping list 12 months on.

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ANTON Ferdinand believes that Sunderland can follow Fulham's lead and transform themselves from relegation strugglers to Europa League qualifiers in the space of 12 months.

The Black Cats only avoided relegation from the Premier League by two points last month but it has done nothing to dampen confidence at the Stadium of Light. And with Steve Bruce installed as manager and billionaire Ellis Short as owner since then, defender Ferdinand is starting to dream of Europe.

On the face of it, a top-seven finish might seem fanciful but the teams outside an increasingly isolated six-team elite are so much of a muchness that it can not be discounted if they trade well this summer. Roy Hodgson's Fulham escaped the drop by only three goals' difference in 2008, but rebuilt to finish seventh last term.

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STEVE Bruce is set to resign as manager of Wigan Athletic, to pave the way for him to become Sunderland's next manager.

Unless it becomes clear that Alan Shearer will not become Newcastle United's permanent boss, Bruce is expected to be installed at the Stadium of Light imminently.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has long been resigned to the fact that Bruce would eventually move to pastures new, and will not try to stand in his way.

Whelan's primary objective will now be to negotiate a generous compensation package, with a fee of around £5m set to be agreed.

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AS Niall Quinn compiles the list from which he will select Sunderland's new manager, the role of the previous occupant is still to be decided.

Chairman Quinn publicly promised Ricky Sbragia "a job for life" when announcing the Scot's resignation in the immediate aftermath of Sunday's final game of the season. The inevitable decision not to make Djibril Cissé's season-long loan permanent was confirmed yesterday, but as yet it is the only real loose end to be resolved. Sbragia's fate is one of the most pressing because of its bearing on his replacement.

In talking about the parting of the ways, Quinn spoke vaguely of a job in "player recruitment" for Sbragia, but both men admitted they had yet to discuss the matter.

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RICKY Sbragia will give his Sunderland players a history lesson to convince them they can escape relegation the right way this weekend.

Beating Chelsea at home on Sunday is the only way the Black Cats can guarantee their Premier League status for another season. Failure to do so will leave them hoping that Newcastle United and Hull City cannot win their matches.

Sbragia, though, is confident his players can look after themselves. If that sounds a tall order, more unlikely escapes have happened before.

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LESS than five months after Sunderland thought they had tied Kenwyne Jones down until 2013, the Black Cats striker has cast his future into doubt.

The Trinidad and Tobago striker will remain at the Stadium of Light if the Black Cats beat relegation on Sunday. But he was more coy about what might happen in the still entirely likely event that they do not.

At the end of a season in which Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp wanted to back up his conviction that Jones is one of the Premier League's top strikers with cash, the 24-year-old was evasive about the possibility of leaving the division if Sunderland do.

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SUNDERLAND'S Premier League fate will be decided on the final day of the season after they failed to take numerous opportunities early last night to secure their safety.

If Newcastle United beat Aston Villa and Hull City triumph over an under-strength Manchester United, the Black Cats will need to beat Chelsea to play in next season's top-flight.

It is an uncomfortable situation they could have avoided with victory over Portsmouth.

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MÁRTON Fülöp is thanking his lucky stars that he was able to prove he is a Premier League-quality goalkeeper this season without having to leave Wearside.

Now the Hungarian is desperate to ensure his good work does not go to waste by allowing Sunderland to drop out of the top fight.

Victory at Portsmouth tonight will guarantee Sunderland's place for 2009-10 and if it is achieved, Fülöp will be able to look back on his own contribution with some pride having been a regular in the side this season.

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TEEMU Tainio believes Sunderland might need another point before their Premier League status for next season is assured - and the Finnish midfielder is not prepared to wait until the final day of this campaign to get it.

With two matches left - at Portsmouth on Monday and at home to Chelsea the following Sunday - Sunderland are on 36 points, two more than Hull City and Newcastle United.

After much talk in the second half of the season of 40 points being needed to be sure of avoiding relegation, Tainio now suspects 37 might do it.

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