Sunderland targeting Tottenham in double deadline-day swoop

Martin O’Neill still wants to strengthen Sunderland’s squad before the end of the transfer window and has targeted Tottenham for two of their fringe players.

Sunderland have already been busy capturing Louis Saha, Adam Johnson and Steven Fletcher, but are still out to bring in a couple more new faces.

With Kieren Richardson heading to Fulham, Sunderland have a vacancy at left-back and a season-long loan deal for Danny Rose is all but formalised.

Rose has been on the periphery of the Spurs first-team since scoring against Arsenal on his Premier League debut in 2010, but has struggled to hold down a permanent place.

Now aged 22, he needs first-team football and should receive this at Sunderland, who will also benefit from Rose’s attacking style from full back.

However, O’Neill also wants to bring in Jermaine Jenas from Tottenham on a permanent deal and Andre Villas-Boas seems happy to allow him to leave.

Jenas has only been a bit-part player at White Hart Lane in recent campaigns and was unfortunate not to showcase his talents on loan at Aston Villa last season, when an Achilles injury on debut left him sidelined for six months.

His Tottenham contract runs out in 2013 and so Sunderland are liable to sign him for a cut price.