Bruce rules out Bent sale ´buy-up´

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has ruled out breaking the bank on a big-name replacement for Darren Bent.

Bent, the club’s leading goal-scorer so far this season, left Sunderland for Aston Villa on Tuesday in a record transfer worth an initial 17 million pounds, rising to 24 million with add-ons.

And Bruce has moved quickly to quash expectations that the bulk of the funds will be reinvested in a direct replacement for the former Charlton and Tottenham Hotspur striker.

“I have to tell all the Sunderland fans if they think I am going to go out for a marquee signing and spend 20 million pounds, it’s not going to happen,” Bruce said.

“We have got to look and make sure we are patient and hope. I will try to bring in a couple of bodies that will help us in the short term, and look to go again in the summer.”

“We are looking … but it is like puppies at Christmas – you don’t just go and buy one for the sake of it because they do need nurturing and looking after.”

“We will make sure we try to do our homework. We have got a couple of irons in the fire and we will bring the right people to the club.”

“Of course, people will try to take my pants down and try to give me a smacking, but we will be okay with that.”

“I am sure people will try it on, but I’m a bit long in the tooth for that.”

Bruce has been closely linked with a move for Stoke City forward Ricardo Fuller, who may struggle for first-team opportunities if Villa’s John Carew arrives at the Britannia Stadium.

“To be fair, we are putting the net far and we know there are certain individuals who could be available.”

“Ricardo Fuller could be one of those, but we have got the irons in the fire, four or five as we speak.”

“I like Ricardo Fuller, I think he has been a very good player in the Premier League, and we will see.”

“Just watch this space for the next 24, 48 hours.”

Bruce also confirmed that Paris Saint-Germaine forward Stephane Sessegnon could be on his way to the Stadium of Light.

“That is a possibility as we speak – but it has been a possibility for two weeks, so we are hoping.”

“We are trying now to exhaust every avenue and see what is available at this particular time.”