No let up in Hunt for Reading star
Roy Keane says he is still pursuing the same transfer targets he was last week ... and is hopeful of landing them.
And that indicates that the battle for Reading's Irish winger Stephen Hunt goes on, despite a reported improved 4.5m bid being turned down yesterday.
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Royals boss Steve Coppell is insisting Sunderland have no chance of signing Hunt and is adamant the Royals are in a strong enough position to rebuff any attempt to sign the Republic of Ireland international.
It is believed Reading are preparing a new deal for Hunt which would make him the joint top earner at the club, alongside Kevin Doyle, on 20,000 a week.
"It doesn't matter. They (Sunderland) can come calling every day – there is no positive response from us in that direction," he said.
Sunderland manager Keane seems determined to recruit the 26-year-old but despite the former Manchester United man's revered status in Ireland, Coppell is convinced Hunt would be willing to remain at the Madejski Stadium.
"The reality was that they made a bid but we would like our core players to be happy staying here," he added.
"There are some clubs that, whether we like it or not, when they come calling then it is hard to turn it down, for the club and the player.
"But he has a really strong connection with this club. He was a free transfer from Brentford when we signed him and although there is not a debt by any means he has a good feeling about this place."
Hunt showed no signs the speculation was affecting his play last weekend when he scored twice in the 2-2 draw at Spurs, where he was also captain for the first time.
But although Coppell was convinced he was still getting 100 per cent from the player he admitted Sunderland's pursuit had been a distraction.
He said: "He is the same old Hunty. He comes in every day and gives us his all – he is one of those lovely characters that way.
"But he can't help be affected when he leaves here. Who knows who is phoning him up? I hope he can retain his focus when he is here and when he is playing for us."
This morning Keane said he will continue the pursuit of those players he originally earmarked as players who would give Sunderland a real lift in the second half of the season.
He told the Echo: "I said last week that there were four players that I was looking at and as far as I'm concerned that hasn't changed.
"I'm still looking at the same four players and hoping we can make progress. I've given my list to our chief executive Peter Walker and I know that he's working hard on it."
Another player linked with Sunderland this morning was Blackburn striker Jason Roberts.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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