Alex Neil says Sunderland are in transfer talks with 'numerous' targets but progress is slow

Sunderland are in transfer talks with 'numerous' players according to Alex Neil - but the Black Cats are not in control of the timing. The Black Cats have brought in four new signings this summer, but are still in need of several more additions to strengthen key positions.

Unsurprisingly, Neil wants new recruits in place as quickly as possible to give him the maximum amount of time to work with them ahead of the new season. But it is proving difficult to push deals through quickly.

"There's been ongoing discussions with numerous players, from different clubs, and the minute we get something across the line, which I can assure you we want to get done as soon as possible, then everybody will be made aware," said Neil, following his side's pre-season defeat at Bradford last night. "At certain times, though, that process cannot get speeded up by what we're trying to do.

"We're banging the door down as much as we can. I don't want to do my business on the last day in August – I want to get my business done as quickly as possible.

"But as I say, the simple fact, unfortunately for us, is that we're not in control of that. There's a lot of teams at the moment, certainly from the Premier League, that are only just coming back from trips abroad.

"You can't sign a player if he's in a different country."

Top of Neil's shopping list is to bring in attacking reinforcements as competition and cover for Ross Stewart, who at present is the club's only senior specialist number nine. He said: "I'm naturally concerned by the fact that we've currently got one centre-forward in the building.

"There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes to try to make sure we remedy that. That situation hasn't changed over the last few weeks.

"I'm not