Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn remains optimistic they will get Mido and Craig Gordon on board before the start of the Premier League.

Black Cats boss Roy Keane confirmed on Monday that the club have made a bid for Tottenham's Egypt striker Mido.

And Sunderland are battling with Aston Villa to persuade 24-year-old Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon to join the club.

And Quinn told Radio Five Live on Tuesday: "This is Roy's department really but we are trying hard - there are lots of bits and pieces going on behind the scenes.

"If it takes a bit longer so be it - we are not going to lose our nerve now.

"My message to our fans is that we haven't jumped in when an agent has rung us with a fashionable player.

"A lot of things have to fall right for someone to come to play at Sunderland."