Keane wants Yorke

Roy Keane could make former Manchester United team-mate Dwight Yorke his first signing for Sunderland.

Terry Butcher, the former England defender who is now boss of Yorke’s Australian club Sydney FC, confirmed 34-year-old Yorke had been in talks with the Black Cats, who unveiled Keane as their new manager on Tuesday.

“Sunderland and Sydney FC are in negotiations for the transfer back to England,” Butcher told a news conference in Melbourne.

“There’s been no resolution to those discussions at the moment.

“But it’s still early in the morning back in the UK, so there’s still a fair amount of time when it comes to transfer deadlines to get things completed if they are to be completed.

“So at this moment in time he’s still a Sydney FC player.”

Yorke did not travel with the team to Melbourne in case he needed to undergo a medical or sign relevant paperwork before the transfer window closes tonight.

The Trinidad and Tobago captain is the highest-profile player in the A-League.

Butcher said: “It will be a big loss to us and to the A-League because he’s our marquee player and will be difficult to replace. We would like him to stay, he’s a great player.”

Keane and Yorke played together in the United team which won the Champions League in 1999, although he was suspended for the final.