Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia admits they've already lost one transfer target.

"We've got feelers out for a couple of players and we've just lost one," said Sbragia. "But I've got players coming back [from injury] and I won't be held to ransom.

"I won't go for a foreigner because it takes them time to bed in. That's for the summer. But one of the problems you have is that the clubs around you don't want to release players to you.

"Having said that, I feel that the squad I've got is different class. They work well together and have a bond between them. I have to weigh up what bringing players in might do in terms of affecting that team spirit."

Sbragia has only been in charge on Wearside for a month since succeeding Roy Keane, first as caretaker-manager and now permanent boss, and he admits he could have done with more time to settle into his first managerial post before the transfer window opened.

He said: "Taking over so close to the start of the transfer window has been a bit of a baptism of fire for me.

"I could have done without it, to be honest. I could have done with more time to settle in and get on with other stuff that has had to lag behind."