Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has played down reports that the Black Cats are close to securing the services of Niko Kranjcar.
Sunderland boss keen to see defensive duo depart
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has played down reports that the Black Cats are close to securing the services of Niko Kranjcar.
Bruce is a confirmed admirer of the Tottenham midfielder, who made just two Premier League starts at White Hart Lane last season.
And the Croatia international's agent, Adrian Aljai, suggested earlier this week that a deal between the two clubs could be concluded soon.
But the Wearside boss, who has already significantly bolstered his squad with 10 new signings this summer, has moved swiftly to deny those claims.
He said: "I don't know where that's come from.
"As I have said repeatedly now for a couple of weeks, I am very, very pleased with what we have done and if we don't do another thing, I will be delighted with what we have done.
"I don't know where the Kranjcar thing came from. I have seen quotes from his agent - certainly, I have not spoken to Kranjcar's agent, so I don't really know where that has come from."
Departures
Meanwhile, Bruce has revealed there is interest in defenders Matt Kilgallon and Nyron Nosworthy from the Championship clubs.
The Black Cats are looking to reduce their total wage bill and, with the pair surplus to requirements, they are hoping deals can be struck during the remaining days of the summer transfer window.
Bruce said: "Kilgallon and Nosworthy are the only two and there's a bit of interest from a couple of Championship clubs.
"We will see what develops over the next week or two. But certainly, they are the only two, I would think, we are looking to let go."
Kilgallon, 27, joined Sunderland from Sheffield United in January last year, but returned early from a loan spell at Middlesbrough through injury and spent the second half of the last campaign at Doncaster under a similar arrangement.
Nosworthy arrived at the Stadium of Light from Gillingham during the summer of 2005, but the 30-year-old has spent the last season-and-a-half on loan at Sheffield United.
Both men were already well down the pecking order on Wearside before the recent arrivals of John O'Shea and Wes Brown pushed them even further away from the first-team picture.
