Keane: No grudges against failed transfer targets

Sunderland boss Roy Keane will not bear any grudges against the men who have turned him down this summer.

The Irishman has worked throughout the close season to strengthen his squad, but has endured mixed fortunes in the transfer market.

Armed with a kitty of around £25m, he has targeted both proven quality and potential, and while he has so far managed to recruit Greg Halford, Russell Anderson, Michael Chopra, Kieran Richardson and Dickson Etuhu, he has missed out on several high-profile signings.

Keane withdrew his offer for Preston's highly-rated England U-21 striker David Nugent after waiting in vain for an answer from the player, and Wigan full-back Leighton Baines has politely declined the offer of a big-money move to the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats boss has also revealed his pursuit of Hearts keeper Craig Gordon, who is valued by his club at up to £10m, is at an end.

However, he insists he respects the decisions of those players who have resisted his overtures having faced similar choices during his own illustrious career.

Keane said: "You have to respect the players' decisions.

"With some players, you get vibes and you think: 'We know this is going to be a hard one to pull off'.

"It was like me last year. I left (Manchester) United and I was never going to go to another team but Celtic.

"I spoke to other clubs and other clubs offered me two, three times the money within half an hour of my house, and I took a lot less money to travel three hours.

"It doesn't matter what, some players will have their minds set on what they are going to do, and you have to respect the players for that.

"Maybe they might regret it, maybe they have made the right decision. Only time will tell."

Keane is hopeful of sealing a deal for West Brom defender Paul McShane within 24 hours as he prepares to head off on the club's pre-season tour to Ireland tomorrow, while a swoop for a second unnamed player may take up to a fortnight to complete.

However, the 35-year-old is adamant neither he nor chief executive Peter Walker could have done any more to lure new singings to the Stadium of Light.

He said: "I look at any deal that might not happen and say: 'Could I have done a bit more, could Peter maybe have done a bit more?', and I have to say, I don't think we could have done too much more.

"There is no question of sitting back and thinking: 'Well, we did not go the full way'. I think we have done.

"But these things happen."

Keane, who dismissed speculation linking him with Kilmarnock striker Steven Naismith, former Manchester United team-mate Alan Smith and Middlesbrough keeper Mark Schwarzer, confirmed Baines' decision not to make the move to Wearside, which was announced by Wigan yesterday.

The 22-year-old is reportedly wanted by Everton, and Keane said: "It's disappointing, of course, but you can't win them all. I spoke to Leighton last week and then he rang me the other night.

"He had his reasons and he rang me himself, he didn't get his agent to ring. I haven't got a problem with that, I have to say.

"He's a nice enough lad, not a problem, but he had his reasons for not coming to the club and we have got to respect that and wish him well.

"My job is to try to keep bringing players into the club that we think will improve us, and you are not going to win them all.

"We are disappointed, but life goes on. We wish Leighton well and we just kick on and continue to look to bring players into the club."

And on Gordon, he added: "It's been well-documented that we made a bid for the lad in Scotland that was turned down.

"That's the end of it. I have got two very good goalkeepers, Marton Fulop and Darren Ward, so that's it, as far as I'm concerned."