DICK ADVOCAAT thinks Sunderland can raise the bar this season and wants two more big name signings before the end of the month to improve their chances.

Advocaat is happy with the progress the Black Cats have made on the transfer front so far after adding five new recruits before this afternoon's Premier League opener with Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.

But after the collapse of Leroy Fer’s move from Queens Park Rangers and an apparent failure to bolster the striker ranks so far, the Sunderland boss still wants more – and he is not just looking to make up the numbers.

Advocaat used Jeremain Lens, the club’s £8m recruit from Dynamo Kyiv, as the example when he described the calibre of player he wants sporting director Lee Congerton to bring in before the transfer window shuts at 6pm on September 1.

“We have a better team than last year, now already,” said Advocaat. “But if we can get one or two additions then everything will be a little easier. Let’s make sure that next season we don’t have to buy four or five players again; just one or two.

“That makes it so much easier than what the club has done for the last five years. Everyone likes to play in England but everyone likes to play at Spurs, Liverpool ... it’s not as simple as that. Bringing in the likes of Lens will help and one or two more like that and I will be happy.

And his calls suggest there is still money to lay out on the squad after spending £15m so far on permanent deals for Sebastian Coates, Younes Kaboul, Adam Matthews and Lens; plus the £2m loan fee for Yann M’Vila from Rubin Kazan.

Given how Sunderland have offloaded Connor Wickham to Crystal Palace for £9m, Sunderland have not actually spent as much as had been expected after Advocaat decided to stay on for a further year.

But he is pleased with the progress. He said: “We started the job well last season and hopefully we can continue. Not do stupid things. The club has done a good job bringing in Kaboul for £3m, Coates for £2m, Matthews for £2m, Yann for free. The only arrival at his true price is Lens but we need three of those, another two.

“Lens is not the only one I am excited by. He is someone I like. He is quick. He has a good shot. He has played 25 times for the national team. I know him from PSV and it is good thing that he comes here because we need that calibre of player.

“It is difficult. We need four of them like him. Not everyone wants to come to Sunderland though. He came here because of our relationship.

“It is true I have a good relationship with Lee also. It is important we both think the same about players. It is important that he doesn’t think a player is hopeless and that I think he is good. We have to think the same way.”

Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj is on Sunderland’s radar but Advocaat was not willing to discuss the talks which have taken place between the clubs in an attempt to seal a loan deal.

But they have also put in plenty of calls in the hope of bringing in an alternative striker to compete with Jermain Defoe to lead the line on a regular basis, which could also see Steven Fletcher and/or Danny Graham move on.

Advocaat, who can call on Fletcher after he recovered from a knock today but is without M’Vila who lacks match fitness, is looking forward to starting his first full campaign as a Premier League boss after keeping Sunderland up last season.

He said: “This is a better challenge than last year when my job was just to get a lift. Now I know the players so much better and they know me. That is important because they know what I want and the way I work.

“There is more competition. That is what I asked for in the squad. Not everyone is sure they will play. I think we can also get better training sessions because of that, they have to prove themselves, which is what I wanted.

“I am very excited after deciding to come back. That last period last season was very positive for all of us. Everyone enjoyed it, me as well. I am very pleased we are back here again.”

Following Leicester’s decision to replace Nigel Pearson with Ranieri, the Foxes have also been touted by some pundits as contenders for the drop. Advocaat, though, thinks Ranieri knows what he is doing and could bring success.

He said: “I know Claudio a bit. I met him once in Switzerland at a UEFA conference. He has always had big clubs. Chelsea, Juventus, Monaco and so many more. It is a measure of the man. Am I surprised he ended up at Leicester? They say the same about me here."