Quinn: Cabanas smoke not out...

Niall Quinn has insisted the deal to bring Swiss midfielder Ricardo Cabanas is not yet dead.

Reports this morning suggested that the international midfielder, who played in every game of his side's World Cup campaign, had rejected Sunderland after refusing to come to Wearside for a trial.

However manager Quinn, speaking to the club website, refuted these claims and believed that there was still a chance that Cabanas - a former target for ex-boss Mick McCarthy - could become a Sunderland player,

'He's a player I would like to bring here. He nearly came here under Mick McCarthy but it didn't work out, the deal stalled at the last hurdle.

'He's someone I admire. He's a passionate player whose work-rate is immense and I think he's someone our fans would take to.

'Yes, I am interested and no the deal is not dead. It's not over the line, we're still working on it and the indications at this moment in time are that he's considering us.'

Quinn revealed this morning that, ideally, he would like to add 6 players to the squad by the end of August. With the new boss having sanctioned several sales without having replaced anyone as yet, he will be desperate to bring in some new faces as soon as possible. News that the Cabanas deal is not dead will be a boost to the manager and fans alike.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.