Sunderland need strikers, but two defenders to arrive first

Sunderland are desperate to sign a striker in the January transfer window, but as Martin O’Neill reassesses his options with Kevin Davies likely to pen a new deal at Bolton, two defenders look set to arrive first.

Wayne Bridge appears to have no future at Manchester City, but has been unable to secure a permanent switch away from Eastlands because of his excessive wage demands.

Bridge was reasonable on loan at West Ham for the second half of last season and it seems that a similar move will take place again to provide him with some first-team football.

Steve Bruce brought in substantial defensive reinforcements to Sunderland in the summer, with John O’Shea and Wes Brown arriving from Manchester United.

But with no out-and-out left back at the club, O’Neill has targeted Bridge to fill this void.

Bridge is already en route to the club to pass a medical and there is no reason to suggest why this deal will not be completed.

Meanwhile, rumours persist that O’Neill also wants to renew his partnership with James Collins, who he previously brought to Aston Villa from West Ham.

Villa seem determined to trim their wage bill and allowing Collins to leave for somewhere in the region of £3m would additionally make space for talented youngster Ciaran Clark to start in his preferred position in central defence.

O’Neill could conceivably bring in four or five new faces to help in his quest to help Sunderland finish in the top half of the table and this can currently be backed at 4/7.