TOTTENHAM boss Martin Jol is hoping to exploit Sunderland's current financial uncertainty by tabling a cut-price offer for teenage goalkeeper Ben Alnwick.

But, with third-choice stopper Joe Murphy having been allowed to sign a two-year contract at Scunthorpe this weekend, the Black Cats board are determined to retain the only realistic alternative to Kelvin Davis.

With Niall Quinn's proposed takeover still more than a month away from completion, the club's current hierarchy are having to deal with the close-season hiring and firing issues that were always going to accompany last season's relegation from the top-flight.

Midfielder Martin Woods was released last week and Murphy, who did not make a single senior appearance for the Black Cats after joining from West Brom last summer, put pen to paper at Glanford Park on Saturday.

Jol, who is also monitoring Julio Arca's availability, is aware of Sunderland's vulnerability given their ongoing takeover discussions and £38m debt.

Until Quinn's consortium makes a formal offer for Bob Murray's majority stake, Sunderland will be vulnerable to losing their best players and Alnwick's burgeoning reputation makes him a prime candidate for asset-stripping.

The 19-year-old impressed during his brief run last season and also caught the eye when he was promoted to the first team for the final three games of Sunderland's Championship-winning campaign.

And, with Davis having established himself as the club's undisputed number one in the second half of last season, Alnwick is bound to be considering his future.

The Prudhoe-born keeper has only made ten senior appearances for the Black Cats, a poor return for a youngster who had been earmarked by Mick McCarthy as the long-term answer to Sunderland's goalkeeping problems.

The current board will be reluctant to lose of their most promising Academy products, and Quinn is unlikely to be in favour of selling one of the club's biggest assets before he has even taken charge at the Stadium of Light.

But it will be difficult for Murray to stand in Alnwick's way if he is offered a chance to be understudy to England international Paul Robinson at White Hart Lane.

The current chairman saw no need to prevent Murphy leaving Wearside, a move that is understood to have been sanctioned by the remaining members of the club's coaching staff.

The 24-year-old failed to make an impression in his 12 months at the Stadium of Light but, after winning a senior Republic of Ireland cap during his time at West Brom, he is confident of returning to the international fold despite dropping down to League One.

"I would love that," said Murphy. "I knew Steve (Staunton) when I was (on loan) at Walsall and he has told me that if I get games, I will definitely be in his thoughts."

Scunthorpe boss Brian Laws revealed that other clubs had also been preparing to make Murphy an offer.

He said. "He's a highly promising young keeper and we have not been the only club chasing him this summer. I'm delighted he has agreed to sign for us."

* Sunderland's reserves team will not play any competitive fixtures next season after the club was forced out of the FA Premiership Reserve League.

A change of Premier League rules means that only top-flight clubs are eligible to enter the competition, which will now operate with only ten teams in the northern section.

The Black Cats were offered membership of the Pontins Holidays League Division One East along with the likes of Darlington, Hartlepool, Scarborough and York.

But they have chosen to go it alone in the hope of setting up a number of higher-profile friendlies against Premiership opposition.

"Reserve games are necessary not only to aid senior players in their recovery from injury but also as a means to give experience to younger players," said chief executive Peter Walker.

"We feel the club's needs are best served by securing a higher level of opposition to play against. It will also ensure that we can arrange fixtures to the club's own timetable.

Read more about Sunderland here.