Cabanas deal up in smoke?…

Mick McCarthy has hinted that there will be no new arrivals at The Stadium of Light during the transfer window.

McCarthy met with the board in London this week to discuss possible transfers and it would appear that the Sunderland manager has been denied funds to bring in the players he had targeted, including Swiss International Ricardo Cabanas.

While McCarthy did not openly admit that no new faces would be brought in to strengthen the squad it was clear what the implications of his comments to the official website were. Referring to the returning Kevin Kyle, George McCartney, Stephen Wright and Stephen Elliot the Sunderland boss said; ‘When the injured players are fit again, they will be four terrific additions to the squad.

‘I take the view that if we get those four players back, I’m not even convinced I would need to spend in the transfer window.’

Cabanas would command a few of around £500,000 from his club Grasshoppers Zurich and McCarthy was eager to add the international to his squad. However he now admits:’I would have to spend an awful lot to improve on those players and I don’t think I can.

‘We’re concentrating on getting those lads back and if they are fit for the rest of the season, then we will have a good squad of players here.’

And while his other target, St Etienne forward Lamine Sakho, is available on a free transfer it remains to be seen whether the board are even prepared to let McCarthy add another name to the wage bill.

Following Carl Robinson’s transfer to Norwich McCarthy may need to make further sales before being allowed to bring in any players.

Alan Stubbs and Joe Murphy could well be those leaving as they negotiate moves to Derby and Walsall respectively.