Dick Advocaat hopes for up to four more signings

Dick Advocaat has revealed he wants up to four more summer signings as he attempts to rebuild his Sunderland team.

The 67-year-old Dutchman agreed to return to the Stadium of Light as head coach last month after initially rejecting the opportunity to reprise his nine-game cameo at the end of last season, during which he guided the club away from relegation trouble and ultimately preserved their Barclays Premier League status.

Chairman Ellis Short promised to fund a summer rebuilding programme in the wake of the Black Cats’ recent struggles, and sporting director Lee Congerton has already secured the services of Liverpool central defender Sebastian Coates and Celtic full-back Adam Matthews, as well as tying up key midfielder Lee Cattermole on a five-year contract extension.

However, Advocaat, who is insisting on quality rather than quantity, knows there is still work to be done before he has a squad which can compete in the area of the league he believes Sunderland’s status demands.

Asked how many more signings he wants, he said: “Three, maybe four.

“It is still very quiet on the transfer market, in England as well. It’s strange. But we still hope that we can get three extra players in the squad. That makes everything a little bit easier.

“What I have said already – and we discussed it with Lee and with the president at the end of last season – we need more competition in the squad.

“We now have two with Coates and Matthews, but hopefully we will still try to get some other ones in as well.”