SUNDERLAND will not rush in to further transfer deals just to make up the numbers as Gustavo Poyet plots a way to avoid another worrying relegation scrap next season.

The Black Cats are working on a number of targets to increase the number of new additions following the arrivals of Billy Jones, Jordi Gomez and Costel Pantilimon as free agents.

Poyet – aware of a surprise report claiming Tottenham are considering an offer for John O’Shea - is far from finished on the recruitment front, believing his squad needs a significantly different look when they start the new Premier League season at West Bromwich Albion on August 16.

But the Uruguayan is prepared to be patient in the weeks ahead in the hope of landing the men they want, with the club’s sporting director Lee Congerton revealing that they will not be talked in to do bad business.

“The market is out there, it’s working, people are out doing business and everything is being done behind the scenes,” said Congerton, who also suggested the loan market will be a big thing again next season.

“Everything’s ongoing but at the end of the day we’re in no rush. We want to sign the right players. We don’t want to sign players for the sake of it because that can cause problems later on.”

There is an argument that ‘signing players for the sake of it’ was exactly what happened last summer under Roberto De Fanti’s time as director of football. Many of his signings struggled to make an impact last season.

But under Poyet the pair are working together to make sure Sunderland have the right team in place to avoid a further season of trouble and strife.

“Gus has ideas, a strategy and strategy and a way of playing. He understands how he wants to play, not just with the ball but without it and in transition,” Congerton told the club website.

“I’m very confident that Gus will shape our team in to a competitive side fort next season. We’re looking forward to it. There’s a massive challenge for us and there’s no easy game. We’re going the right way.”