Days of mass turnover are over, says Keane

ROY KEANE has admitted the major reconstruction of his squad has been completed.

The Sunderland boss has invested in excess of £70million (€88m) in new players in the two years since taking over as manager at the Stadium of Light, and has welcomed approaching 40 new faces into the club.

That has meant a huge turnover as several members of the squad, including many of his singings, have headed back through the exit door.

However, having established the club back in the Premier League, Keane believes the groundwork was completed when George McCartney made his deadline day move back to Wearside from West Ham.

He said: “I think we have done all our major wheeling and dealing.

“I have to say, there comes a point, and I think that point was when we did the deal for George (McCartney) and we said: ‘Enough’s enough’.

“You are always looking to improve your squad, don’t get me wrong, but we are hoping every other transfer window now it will be one, two, a maximum of three players, you would try to bring to your football club, unless you got a spate of injuries.

“There are obviously loan deals you can look at — we have got one at the minute with Djibril Cisse.

“But the major reconstruction is done, I have to say.”

Keane now has what he believes is the strongest squad he has had at his disposal, although with so many newcomers — McCartney and Cisse were joined by Pascal Chimbonda, Teemu Tainio, El-Hadji Diouf, Steed Malbranque, David Healy, Anton Ferdinand and Nick Colgan this summer — they will take time to gel.

Keane said: “I have to say, I am delighted with the group of players I have got.

“We went to Wigan and I left three or four really good players behind, so that’s good from my point of view.

“But it will take a bit of time for these players to gel together.”