ROY KEANE will hold a transfer strategy meeting with chairman Niall Quinn later today, heartened by an admission from Arsene Wenger that even he finds it difficult to sign the players he wants.
Just moments after embarking on a full lap of honour at the Stadium of Light after Sunderland closed the season by finishing 15th with a 1-0 defeat at home to Arsenal, Keane discussed the transfer market with Wenger.
With Premier League status assured, the Black Cats boss intends to deliver his list of targets to Quinn and chief executive Peter Walker today.
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And, after being labelled 'remarkable' by the Arsenal boss for keeping Sunderland up this season, Keane is ready to launch another massive recruitment drive.
"I'm meeting with the board and I'm not sure what the message will be yet," said Keane, who missed out on Leighton Baines, Chris Baird and David Nugent last summer.
"I have had to concentrate on the games. I'm due to meet them in the next 24 hours and I will have an idea of what kind of players and how many I can buy then.
"I have been discussing it with the Arsenal manager, it's the same problem for him. There's not many quality players available. They are in a different situation to us, but they are looking to improve their team.
"It was very, very tough last summer and it won't be any easier this summer. I wasted a lot of time and energy last time and got too involved. You can't relax and we need to strengthen for next season."
Keane's leading striker, Kenwyne Jones, chipped a bone in his wrist during yesterday's defeat to Arsenal. He is expected to be out of action for six weeks, which will rule him out of the Trinidad and Tobago friendly with England on June 1.
"He will need a plaster cast and he will be out of action for six weeks," said Keane. "We are disappointed with the injury but fortunate it happened because with that system (4-5-1) we missed him again when he went off."
Despite being encouraged by Sunderland's display, Keane suggested there should be no satisfaction in losing narrowly to a Champions League side.
"That was never going to make or break our season," said Keane, who dropped midfielder Kieran Richardson after he was late for training once last week.
"We have generally got good results against the teams around us. But if you look at the top four's results; Reading drew with United on the first day of the season and Birmingham got a result against Arsenal and they have both gone down.
"This season we have lost to United by the odd goal, we lost to Arsenal by the odd goal but they add up. We are close but not close enough yet."
Sunderland's performance impressed Wenger and the Frenchman paid tribute to Keane for the way he has kept the Wearside outfit up this season.
He said: "When you come up you say congratulations and it's certainly well done. He has done remarkably."
Arsenal finished third in the Premier League title race, some four points shy of champions Manchester United. Wenger, though, is not too downbeat.
"It's disappointment but there's hope for future success because we have a young side," said Wenger, whose side boasted an average age of 22 yesterday. "We finished with 83 points and I have won titles with less."
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