ROY KEANE expects to make his long-awaited transfer breakthrough in the next couple of days and is ready to smash Sunderland’s transfer record if necessary. But he was quick to quash rumours that he holds a £50m transfer budget to land his top targets.

“Everyone thinks I’ve got 50 million to spend, I can tell you it’s certainly not 50 million,”

declared the Sunderland manager.

In his first press conference of pre-season, Keane’s confidence that major acquisitions are tantalisingly close should serve to quell the growing anxiety among Sunderland fans regarding the lack of transfer activity.

“I have got some good bids in and I think we are close with some of them. Possibly in the next 48 hours,” he said.

The Black Cats boss was typically taciturn when asked about the players’ identity, but club sources support Keane’s upbeat assertion that Sunderland could be about to secure high-calibre signings.

“I really don’t want to go into conversations today about players who are under contract with another club.

Other managers do it and that annoys me,” said Keane.

“The next two to three weeks are a vital part of Sunderland – of the club’s future and my future. We want to do better than last year and I believe we will if we get these players.”

After enjoying an end-ofseason break that included a spell completing his coaching badges in New Zealand, Keane had an air of someone who was back firing on all cylinders. He challenged the Sunderland board to back his ambitious plans.

“It’s all well and good saying we’re nearly there. The real deal-makers get over the line. We’ve been accused of not making those deals and history shows we don’t,” declared Keane. “We want to change history, I want to change the history of the club. That’s the statement we want to make.”

And he is drawing on the biggest clubs in the world for inspiration.

“Real Madrid say every summer they will sign the best players in the world – that’s a statement about what their club is all about. I hope our signings will say we are ready to go to the next level and that’s the teams just above us – the Middlesbroughs and Blackburns.”

Keane admitted he still covets the signature of defender Jonny Evans.

“We know Jonny is a top player and ideally I’d like to bring him into our club, but he’s not at a bad now club is he? And Man Utd certainly don’t need the money,”

Keane’s biggest challenge is to bolster a forward line severely weakened by the injury to Kenwyne Jones.

“There is clearly knee ligament damage and he will go back to the surgeon in two or three weeks,” said Keane, outlining the condition of the Trinidad and Tobago marksman.

“We hope he won’t need major surgery. I’m not playing games with you, we will know for sure in two or three weeks.

“But we can definitely rule him out for first month or two without doubt.”

Two players who will figure next season are Liam Miller and Ross Wallace – both removed from the transfer list.

“I’m going to take Liam off the list. It’s a new season and it’s a new beginning for everyone in the squad. It’s the same for Ross Wallace,” confirmed Keane.

“I don’t think Liam will make Portugal because he’s got a slight foot injury, but I’ll take him off the list.

“I’d actually forgotten they were still on there.”