Keane continues to keep plans on hold

Posted on 19th January 2007

Sunderland manager Roy Keane is awaiting the outcome of the Lucas Neill saga before getting on with his remaining transfer plans. Sunderland require a new left back but Neill is not thought to be who Keane wants. However he will have a bearing on Sunderland target Stephen Warnock.

The twenty-five-year-old defender has been told he can leave Liverpool for £1.5m but the fact Neill is still a Blackburn Rovers player is dragging out the process. Rovers manager Mark Hughes made clear yesterday Neill would not be allowed to leave until a replacement had been signed, with Warnock one of his options.

Sunderland are waiting for an answer from Liverpool. If the answer is a no it will at the very least allow Keane to move on. Another target for Sunderland could perhaps be Plymouth Argyle’s Tony Capaldi who is out of contract at the end of the season.

“We’re hoping for maybe one or two more players but there's nothing imminent,” Keane revealed. “We were looking at a certain player, we made inquiries about him and the club's not even got back to us - a fairly big club.”

Reports yesterday suggesting West Ham United had agreed to sign Neill were quickly rubbished by Hughes but it seems the versatile defender would prefer a switch to Upton Park over a return to former club Liverpool. The more generous wages apparently on offer in the capital seem to be behind his enthusiasm for the relegation-threatened outfit.

Neill is out of contract in the summer so any clubs interested will not want to rush things and pay over the odds. Some may even wait until the summer itself and try to capture the player on a free deal.

Earlier Sunderland news

Keane faces selection problem
Hysen not settling for the play-offs
Sunderland boosted with pair’s return to action
Evans would welcome extended stay
Result makes a change admits Keane
Stokes believes Sunderland can get promotion
Decision to join Sunderland was quick for Edwards
Sunderland trying to capture Warnock
Stead future in doubt as signings made
Hysen – I could have had a hat–trick
Patience the key says Keane
We can't be come back kings every week
Yorke gets glowing reference from manager
Ward urges Cats to keep focus
Connolly credits away fans with point