Sunderland's transfer spending has already reached almost £30m during the transfer window ... and Paulo Di Canio says he hasn't finished spending!
That shows us that the Mackems have faith in their controversial boss; while Mike Ashley doesn't seem willing to spend until Alan Pardew flies the roost!
The Black Cats have been the most active Premier League outfit this summer after adding TEN players to the first-team frame, as Paolo Di Canio remoulds the squad he inherited from Martin O’Neill.
While Joe Kinnear pulled the piss by offering £2m for Darren Bent (who cost Villa £27m) Jozy Altidore and Emanuele Giaccherini both cost the Mackems in excess of £6m.
Sunderland landed Modibo Diakite, Valentin Roberge and Cabral on Bosmans, Vito Mannone and David Moberg Karlsson were each signed for less than £2m, while the club had to pay nominal compensation to Le Havre for out-of-contract midfielder El-Hadji Ba.
Yet NU-Mad understands that the total outlay from Sunderland’s recruitment drive is still approaching the £30m mark – from transfer fees, signing-on payments and agent costs.
A large chunk of that total was financed by the £11m sale of Simon Mignolet to Liverpool, while Sunderland also received £2m for Ahmed Elmohamady from Hull City.
And they further boosted their bank balance last week with the departure of James "Poppy Boy" McClean to Wigan for £1m.
The figures are further evidence of the financial support provided by Sunderland owner Ellis Short.
England international Tom Huddlestone is Sunderland’s main target for the midfield role, but he won’t come cheap, with Tottenham placing a £5m asking price on the 26-year-old earlier this summer before the Black Cats broke off negotiations.
Sunderland are NOT reliant on further sales before making further purchases though.