Neil admits it’s a waiting game

TRANSFER FRUSTRATION OUT OF CLUB’S CONTROL

ALEX Neil admits the transfer window is proving to be a “waiting game” for Sunderland – with more signings in the pipeline, but nothing “imminent”.

The Black Cats have added six players over the summer, including two in Jack Clarke and Leon Dajaku, who were on loan with the Wearsiders last term, but there are still key positions in the squad which need strengthening.

Neil says the club is still pursuing a number of long-term targets, but has also had to explore some other options where they could not get deals over the line.

“We’ve had some long-term targets that we are still pursuing, we’ve had some targets that because the dynamics have changed we have had to move on from and on to others, and we have brought some players in,” said Neil.

“Naturally, we would like to get everything done over the next 24-48 hours, but the likelihood is that it will be much more drawn out than that. I don’t expect anything imminently.

“There have been a couple that have rumbled on a bit so they might come to fruition sooner than I think, but I’m not really in control of that.”

Like many clubs in the Championship,

Sunderland are waiting for Premier League teams to formulate their own squads in order to pick up players deemed surplus to requirements.

Part of the reason for moves taking so long is that both buying and selling clubs are holding out for the best possible deal.

Neil said: “When you are looking to enhance your squad, you are generally looking at levels above.

“That’s not always the case, though, there might be other teams that need to bring a player in before they can let a player go, there might be other teams that are trying to drive up the price because they don’t want to sell.

“When you’re trying to pursue something and they want X amount of money, you want the best deal and so do they.

“As time ticks down and if there are no more interested parties involved, contracts run down and then the offer that you’ve made begins to look more atttractive.

“It’s all a bit of a waiting game in recruitment. It’s not easy because you want to feel that you are getting good value.

“There are certain positions where we need to bring in more cover, there are certain positions we need to strengthen, there are certain positions where we need more competition. I’m hopeful that we’ll get a few deals done between now and the end of the window.”

“You start out aiming at one level, and then as the window starts to tick down you work your way down because a lot of players are potentially unavailable, a lot of deals can’t get done, but there are also ones that can get done, hence we have made some signings.

“Come the end of the window, players become available that you don’t expect to be available.

“Your best-laid plans at the start of the window can look very different at the end of the window it’s a moving target.”

The season started last weekend, and the summer transfer window closes on August 31 meaning clubs began their campaign not knowing what their squads would look like later in the month.

In an ideal world, Neil says that uncertainty would be laid to rest before the season gets under way.

He said: “You’d naturally like it to end before a ball is kicked because then you would know exactly where you are with your squad and you can plan accordingly, but that’s never been the way that it is.