Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is ready to clear out as many as eight players this summer.
The Sunderland Echo says the eight players Bruce will allow to leave, amount to approaching A QUARTER of the total player wage bill.
George McCartney, Daryl Murphy, Teemu Tainio, David Healy, Nyron Nosworthy and Marton Fulop are all available this summer, while it is believed the manager would listen to offers for Phil Bardsley and Anton Ferdinand, and sell if the price was right.
The sales of those players would greatly strengthen the manager's hand in the transfer market, with Bruce having been told that all funds raised from departing players will go straight into his transfer kitty.
Chairman Niall Quinn confirmed: "Steve has money to spend this summer, but obviously players who leave and therefore bring in transfer fees and reduce wage costs; that money will also go to the manager."