Keane eyes Black Cats duo

Roy Keane has turned his attention to former club Sunderland as attempts to strengthen his Ipswich Town squad.

Town have tabled a joint offer for midfielders Grant Leadbitter and Carlos Edwards as Keane looks to strengthen his squad after a dreadful start to the Coca-Cola Championship campaign.

Leadbitter, a product of the Black Cats’ Academy, has played only a peripheral role so far this season following the summer arrivals of Lee Cattermole and Lorik Cana.

Trinidad and Tobago international winger Edwards, who was signed by Keane from Luton for £1.4m in January 2007, played a major part in the club’s promotion campaign that season, but was unable to command a regular place in the starting line-up in the Barclays Premier League.

Steed Malbranque and Kieran Richardson are currently the men in possession of the wide berths.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has invested heavily this summer in the likes of record £10m signing Darren Bent, Cattermole, Cana, Fraizer Campbell and Paulo da Silva.

He is also still attempting to push through a season-long loan move for Lyon defender John Mensah.

Bruce has hinted that there could be departures before the transfer window closes next Tuesday.