Sbragia: Black Cats won’t be held to ransom

RICKY SBRAGIA has warned Sunderland will neither be held to ransom by sellers nor treated as a charity by buyers during this month’s transfer window.

The Black Cats boss is currently attempting to strengthen his own squad while offloading some of the excess baggage acquired during predecessor Roy Keane’s reign.

But with just weeks in the management game behind him, he has already had an insight into the vagaries of the market.

Sbragia is keen to recruit at least one experienced Barclays Premier League defender but has already found the perception that he has money to spend has had an effect on asking prices — while the figures the Black Cats have been offered for some of their fringe players come nowhere near their valuations.

He said: “We have earmarked one, probably, to buy — but the prices for some reason seem to rise.

“It seems to go double for Sunderland — I don’t know why. We put a price on a player and we believe that’s a fair price — and if it goes well beyond that, we won’t be interested.

“But then they come to us and they want charity from us. Teams come in and put a price in for a player well below what we estimate.”

Sbragia made it clear which area of the squad he is looking to reinforce.

He said: “I don’t think it is any secret we need defenders and I am looking at people who have Premier League experience.

“We are in dialogue with a couple, but I won’t be held to ransom.”

Sbragia admitted departures are also likely but remains determined to hang on to his senior players.

Sunderland dismissed suggestions Pascal Chimbonda could be allowed to return to Tottenham on loan while Sbragia is adamant Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce is wasting his time if he tables a bid for Senegal international El-Hadji Diouf.

Sbragia, who confirmed there has been no contact with Rangers over David Healy, said Michael Chopra will not be allowed to rejoin Cardiff after returning from a loan spell.