Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia insists none of his players will leave on the cheap.

"The problem we've got is that when anyone is interested in our players, they want them for nothing," Sbragia told the Sunday Sun. "When we show interest in someone who is worth £2m, suddenly they want £5m!

"There's no way I'll do deals like that. We're seen as a club with money and all the prices are inflated.

"If people think you've got money, they want a slice of it. Maybe it is a Sunderland thing that dates back to the day Roy (Keane) came in - I don't know."

Sbragia is looking to bring in at least one central defender during the window but revealed last week that he had missed out on one potential target.

He said: "I was told he wasn't available. The money side was OK but suddenly he was back in the team.

"I've got a couple of alternatives and I'll look to them now."