SUNDERLAND manager Steve Bruce will prioritise the improvement of his side’s defence this summer, but neither Calum Davenport nor Tal Ben Haim are in line for a permanent transfer to the Stadium of Light.

Both Davenport and Ben Haim spent the second half of last season on loan to the Black Cats, and the pair had been hoping to make a fulltime switch to Wearside this summer.

Manchester City’s Ben Haim made five Sunderland starts after arriving in January, while West Ham’s Davenport made seven starts and established himself as one of the club’s first-choice defenders towards the end of the campaign.

However, Bruce’s arrival has altered the pair’s position, and effectively scuppered their hopes of completing a permanent switch to Sunderland.

Bruce is keen to strengthen his side’s defence this summer, but the former Wigan manager has a number of targets of his own and is not interested in a move for either Ben Haim or Davenport.

That could change if a number of his proposed deals fall through, but with American owner Ellis Short having promised significant investment this summer, Bruce is confident of landing at least two experienced defenders.

Richard Dunne is expected to be one of them, despite competition from four of Sunderland’s Premier League rivals.

The Republic of Ireland international remains Bruce’s number one target, but Manchester City will not agree to his release until they have signed a centre-half of their own.

City boss Mark Hughes is hoping to sign Joleon Lescott this summer, but Everton will do all they can to keep the highly-rated England international at Goodison Park.

Meanwhile, Wolves have become the latest club to show an interest in Sunderland midfielder Dean Whitehead.

Wolves boss Mick Mc- Carthy brought Whitehead to the Stadium of Light in a £150,000 transfer from Oxford in June 2004, and is interested in being reunited with the midfielder.

Whitehead came close to leaving Sunderland in January, only for former boss Ricky Sbragia to persuade him to remain and help with the club’s relegation fight.

Six months on, however, and the 27-year-old is now expected to sever his ties with the Black Cats.