Spurs' midfielders Steed Malbranque and Teemu Tainio plus defenders Pascal Chimbonda and Younes Kaboul are all being linked with a move to the Stadium of Light.

And there are unconfirmed reports that a massive offer of more than £20m has been accepted for the quartet.

Sunderland manager Roy Keane has refused to be drawn on who his transfer targets are, but he does say he wants to make five or six new signings before the start of the new Premier League season.

It followed the news that striker Kenwyne Jones had been ruled out for up to two months with knee ligament damage.

Spurs striker Darren Bent has also been linked with a move away from White Hart Lane - with Sunderland again one of the mooted destinations.

The Black Cats fly out to Portugal today with no new faces among the party despite being linked with a host of targets including the likes of Bent, Andrew Johnson, Louis Saha and Stephen Hunt.

But the manager is remaining calm as chairman Niall Quinn and chief executive Peter Walker attempt to reach agreements which will allow him to sit down with players and sell them his vision for the club.

Keane said: "There are different hurdles to overcome in certain deals, but we have jumped over one or two over the last few nights and I think we are close to some of the deals.

"I am pretty sure that this time next week, we will have plenty of new faces at the club.

"But it takes time. Niall and Peter are in negotiation with a few clubs at this moment and we are getting very close to them.

"But again, all I want is an opportunity to speak to these players.

"If they come, they come; if they don't, then you get on with it."