Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill has revealed he is aiming to bring in players on the deadline day of the winter transfer window after his team picked up unexpected injuries.
The Northern Irish manager revealed earlier on in the week that the Black Cats had made a bid for Bolton Wanderers striker Kevin Davies. Davies is reportedly unhappy at the Reebok Stadium and is looking for a move away in the January transfer window.
It is no surprise O’Neill has entered into the transfer market this late, with injuries to Wes Brown, David Vaughan and Lee Cattermole. He revealed he wanted to strengthen the squad before the end of the transfer window due to late injuries.
O’Neill said while speaking to reporters:
“We have a couple of injury problems, just when you thought there was light at the end of the tunnel, that we were getting a few people back.
Then suddenly, you play a game, you lose a couple of players and you are less than 36, 37 hours away from transfer deadline.”
O’Neill admitted to being concerned with the late injuries, which meant his side had to invest in new players in the winter transfer window. He revealed he did not want his side to be left without options in the second half of the 2011-2012 season.
The Black Cats manager admitted he was even open to the idea of bringing in players on a loan move, as was with Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner. The Denmark international is yet another player who has been ruled out with injury for an indefinite period of time.
While the bid for Kevin Davies has been rejected by Bolton Wanderers boss Owen Coyle, O’Neill admitted interest in the England international. He believed Davies’ experience could help the Black Cats continue on their successful run for the remainder of the term.
He revealed:
“We have made an offer for Kevin Davies, but that has been rejected at the moment.
We will try to see if there is something we can do, but I just wouldn't mind getting one or two players in if it's at all possible just to alleviate the problems we are obviously going to face in the next couple of months.”