Sunderland boss Steve Bruce's transfer kitty is set to be boosted.

The Sunderland Echo says Bruce's transfer kitty will be boosted by £1.5million next month when the last instalment of Michael Chopra's transfer fee becomes due.

The Cardiff City hitman changed clubs in January 2008 in a deal which has previously been reported as a £4m move, but the Echo understands actually went ahead for just £3m.

The way the deal was structured, £500,000 was to be handed over by the Welsh club as a down payment followed by £1m after the first year - both sums of money which have now been paid - and the remainder of the cash, to be paid in the 2010 close season, falls due next month.