Sunderland chief executive Steve Walton has told a fans-forum that players will not have to be sold in order to fund a summer recruitment drive. He told supporters at a talk-in in South Shields on Monday night: "Players will absolutely not have to be sold to balance the books. Any sales will be dictated by what is right for the manager and balancing the dressing room."
He added: "However, of course we can't legislate for transfers which come from left field, such as those involving Darren Bent and Lorik Cana."
Bent stunned Sunderland by handing in a transfer request in January, and subsequently left the club in a £24million switch to Aston Villa.
Former skipper Cana left for Galatasaray last summer just a year after arriving on Wearside in a £5million switch from Marseille.
