AFTER a constructive transfer summit at the Academy of Light, Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has outlined a wish to make quick-fire additions to his Sunderland squad as soon as the window opens in January.

Poyet wants to add a couple of new signings after the turn of the year and has already identified players he thinks sporting director Lee Congerton should be targeting in the build up to January 1.

But the Sunderland boss has also told Congerton that there are players who can be moved on, which could boost his own recruitment push as he looks to help the Black Cats continue a recent turnaround in fortunes.

Poyet met with the club’s transfer negotiator last Thursday and discussed a variety of things, but bringing in fresh faces is highest in his thinking.

"It was a good meeting and we set out a plan,” said Poyet. “We're clear and we have another meeting planned in a few days, after this round of games, to finalise a few things because we're almost into December.

"It's all about timetables and we have to respect different things. We have to find out what we can and can't bring in and what money we have. If they all come in to place we go for it. The earliest you can get a player the better.”

Before the transfer window opens there is a desire to thrash out the future of striker Connor Wickham. The young forward is out of contract next summer when he will be able to move on for a compensation fee to be decided by a tribunal.

Wickham and his advisors have so far been reluctant to agree fresh terms with Sunderland and that could lead to an early departure, particularly if a club like Southampton follows up tentative interest.

Poyet said: "Wickham's contract is something we’re also working on. We're also trying to make sure that those players how've not had much of an opportunity so far can move on.

"You can't stay at a club forever without playing. There are plenty of things going on and we have everything in place. We just need everybody to be realistic and hopefully we can do something important.”

Jozy Altidore is one of those players likely to be available if the price is right. The American’s agent suggested this week that there is interest in him from Germany and France, as well as from Major League Soccer.

The 25-year-old, who has struggled since his £6m switch from AZ Alkmaar in the summer of last year, is yet to start a Premier League game under Poyet this season.

But the Sunderland boss insists Altidore could yet prove he deserves a bigger role at the Stadium of Light and suggested he could figure strongly in games with Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool over the next eight days.

"There have been plenty of rumours that Jozy's agent was coming, but I've not seen him yet,” said Poyet. “As a manager I'm going to use him (Jozy). It will be a surprise for a few. I'm not saying I’m going to use him on Saturday, but I'm going to use him in a nice way and I'll use him because we need him. He's our player and he needs to do something special for us.

"He's not started many games under me but in these three games we need to use the squad very well. They're three tough games and we'll have to utilise the squad. We need to use it well and up front we have Jozy, Connor and Steven Fletcher. Jozy's the main striker on the bench at the moment so we'll use him a lot.

"During the (good) run last year, he was more important for us than people might think, especially going on in the last 20 minutes of those five games, when he played very well. At that time he needed to come in and produce, and he did that. He produced well at Chelsea in particular.”

When Chelsea arrive in the North-East tomorrow, Poyet will have summer signing Ricky Alvarez back involved after injury. The fixture has, though, come too soon for right-back Billy Jones and midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini, who are almost over respective hamstring and ankle problems.