Manager Steve Bruce is reported to have a war chest worth up to £50million for player transfers, but there has been no incoming movement to the Stadium of Light.

That's despite the fact Bruce has been linked with a string of players, including Darren Bent, Robbie Keane, Didier Zokora, Tom Huddlestone, Jermaine Pennant, Richard Dunne, Lee Cattermole and Titus Bramble.

Chairman Niall Quinn is reported as saying: "We haven't give up on any of our targets, but nor have we thrown our cards on the table to show our hand either.

"Steve has a few players that we would love to have, but he's very insistent on having a good look at what we have - and he's probably right.

"We have maybe got some players who weren't able to do well under a previous manager who might come alive, and suddenly you have got an asset you didn't realise you had.

"Rather than just trading for the sake of it, let's try to be intelligent and smart. We know what we need and where we need it.

"It's pretty obvious that Djibril (Cisse] has gone and that we need a centre-forward. That doesn't take a lot to work out.

"There are areas where we have to do something, but there will be an opportunity for others too."

There has already been movement out of the Stadium of Light with Chopra's permanent return to Cardiff having come into force at midnight on Tuesday, while Halford is poised to join promoted Wolves.

But as the Wearsiders begin the process of attracting new signings, Quinn is convinced the club is now a more attractive proposition than in the past.

He said: "The third year in, people are seeing us as a better option than they did in the first year. Then it was, 'Ooh, we want to see some evidence'.

"The second year, yes, we brought players in and looking back, we may have bought too many and maybe it upset the dressing room a little bit - but we did get some good ones.

"There's some fabulous talent in there and if we can harness it with a couple of steely characters coming in, it will give us a chance.

"Our manager gets what we are about, which is the most pleasing thing for me."