NEW Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone has warned Keiren Westwood he has not arrived in the North-East to warm the bench after finalising a £2m switch from Arsenal yesterday.

Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio and director of football Roberto De Fanti have decided to spend on Simon Mignolet's replacement rather than opt for a free agent.

And that has cast doubts over whether or not Westwood's wish of starting the new season as Di Canio's No 1 will be granted.

Mannone has been on the periphery of things at Arsenal for the last eight years since making a move from Atalanta as a teenager and is keen to prove himself at the highest level.

That means the 25-year-old is not prepared just to fill in whenever Westwood picks up an injury and both shot-stoppers will be assessed during pre-season to determine who deserves to start against Fulham on August 17.

Mannone, whose last start for Arsenal was in November, said: "Every player knows they have competition. We live in a world of competition. I will work and do my best to be in the first 11 and then the manager will decide. All I can do is try to show what I am capable of."

Westwood has warmed to Di Canio's approach at Sunderland and has already hit it off with goalkeeper coach Domenico Doardo. Such factors help, but will not be enough to keep him at the Stadium of Light if he does not play in the Premier League.

The 28-year-old only has a year remaining on the contract he signed when he left Coventry City as a free agent two years ago.

And he has been told he will not reclaim his Republic of Ireland place from David Forde if he is not playing regularly, which has caused him to consider his options.

Westwood said last month: "I love it at Sunderland and I do think I have improved there. But it is going to be very difficult for me if I am not playing. We'll see what happens in the close season.

"The simple thing about me though is I just want to play football. I need to be stimulated. Some players are happy whatever happens, but it's not for me."

The arrival of Mannone, who has signed a two-year deal, means Di Canio has six new players on the training ground - and is close to adding more.

The Italian, a player De Fanti and chief scout Valentino Angeloni have kept an eye on since leaving Atlanta aged 17, joins fellow new-boys Cabral, Valentin Roberge, Modibo Diakite, David Karlsson and Duncan Watmore at the Cleadon training complex.

Sunderland are also expected to complete deals for Le Havre duo El-Hadji Ba and Bernard Mendy before the end of the week along with Velez Sarsfield's Gino Peruzzi.

Negotiations remain ongoing with a number of other clubs around Europe for other targets, while there were claims in Greece last night that an agreement has been reached for Panathanaikos' winger Charis Mavrias after a £2.5m bid.

After spending the last few days in the North-East, Mannone thinks any more new signings will be delighted with just how professional things are at Sunderland.

"The potential of the club is incredible. I have come from a big club like Arsenal but to be honest I don't see any difference in the facilities," Mannone told the club's website. "From what I can see on my first day they are brilliant.

"To have good facilities where you can work and improve is something every club wants to achieve. The base is there and I am really happy to be here.

"I waited a long time for an opportunity like Sunderland and for me it is a great one. I'm very excited. I am here to work hard to show what I can do."