McCarthy warns bargain hunters

McCarthy has been frustrated by a lack of transfer movement

Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy insists the club will not be rushed into a fire sale of their star names.

McCarthy is desperate to offload players to raise money to bring in his own transfer targets.

But he suggested that Premiership bargain hunters biding their time before moving for the likes of Kevin Phillips could find their tactics backfire.

Phillips looked to have played his last game for Sunderland when he waved goodbye to fans before calling a news conference to announce his intention to leave the club.

But he could still start the season at the Stadium of Light, along with other Premiership targets including Lilian Laslandes and goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.

Gavin McCann has attracted interest from Aston Villa, while Claudio Reyna, Michael Gray and Matt Piper have also been linked with moves away to help ease the club's debt problems.

"We know that there will be clubs circling around, waiting for the end of the transfer window and hoping to come in on the last day and pinch somebody," McCarthy said.

Phillips is back in training Kevin Phillips career profile

"The reality is that the season will have started by then and the shop might have shut.

"Chairman Bob Murray will be happy to do business with people now at a fair and reasonable price, but it has to be beneficial to us and the other team.

"There is interest in a lot of the players and I have had loads of telephone calls, but most people want to get something for nothing."

Middlesbrough are among the clubs trailing Phillips but will not meet Sunderland's £4m valuation.

But McCarthy has been delighted with the player's attitude after he returned for pre-season training.

"Kevin was probably right to say what he said and he possibly will still move on," McCarthy said.

"But what I like about him is that he walked in here on Wednesday (for training) and he got on with it."

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