‘The right players at the right price’ – Sunderland’s transfer policy

Once Lens has settled on Wearside after his £8m switch he will fly his family over, having signed a four-year deal at Sunderland.

As for Welbeck, he spent the 2010-11 season on loan with the Black Cats, scoring six goals in 26 league games before netting 12 in 39 appearances for United the following year.

Sunderland were the second lowest scorers in the Premier League last season and Dutch worldwide Jeremain Lens has been the only offensive-minded recruit so far this summer.

“We’ve brought some players in, but we still hope at the end of the transfer window, to have one or two more”, he said.

‘But I had a contract, I had to do my job and it was important for the fans I went back. I think we can also get better training sessions because of that, they have to prove themselves, which is what I wanted.

“We have brought in five players and Connor Wickham has gone, and we still hope to bring in one or two players more”.

“It just felt like the war was coming closer and closer to Kiev and of course, I would be flying back there from Amsterdam and I feared what could happen”. Not everyone is sure they will play.

“He is a very good addition who has pace and can score goals”.

Although just three losses from their remaining nine games, which included an unbeaten run in five consecutive outings, saw them complete the great escape. However, he had made a promise to his family that he would leave at the end of the season. When the political situation changed, I told them to stay in Holland. “If we can play attacking football then we have the players who can do that”.

And more significantly, Januzaj himself would have to agree to join Sunderland, although the 20-year-old is aware of Advocaat after the manager’s spell in charge of the Belgian national team.

“It is true I have a good relationship with Lee also”.

“Lens is not the only one I am excited by”. The last time I played for a team that was not challenging for a championship I was like 18 or 19. “You can see it as a fighting mentality and that I hate to lose, ‘ he says with a smile”.

A lack of match fitness will see M’Vila sit out today’s Premier League opener at Leicester City, with the midfielder pencilled in to feature for the Under-21s in tomorrow’s Eppleton CW clash against Norwich City (2pm kick-off).