Black Cats yet to bolster squad as Keane plays transfer hardball

SUNDERLAND could head to a pre-season trip to Portugal with no new faces on board as they refuse to be held to ransom in the transfer market.

Chairman Niall Quinn and manager Roy Keane have spent the close season pursuing targets and attempting to negotiate deals but to date they have seen few tangible results.

Keane and his players are due to fly to the Algarve this week for friendlies at Sporting Lisbon and Vitoria de Setubal, with the start of the new season just a month away.