Sunderland boss Steve Bruce insists Asamoah Gyan is not for sale.
The priority is to find a striker to lighten the load on Ghana star Gyan, who bagged 11 goals in his debut season on Wearside.
Bruce told the Northern Echo: "I have seen bits of speculation, but that does not worry me at all. I have had no inquiries for Gyan.
"He will be better in the second year because he will be used to it more. What we need is competition for him."
The summer spending will not stop there, according to Bruce, who said: "When I first came in I signed Darren Bent, Fraizer Campbell, Lorik Cana, Lee Cattermole, Titus Bramble and Michael Turner. We need another influx like we had then."
