World NewsRoy Keane Starts Signing Spree |
Sunderland boss Roy Keane has set his sights on further signings after landing his first summer recruit.
The 35-year-old welcomed £3million full-back Greg Halford to Wearside yesterday after a protracted pursuit, and promised he would not be the last new man to come through the doors.Keane said: "It's always nice to get the first one in, I have to say. Hopefully it's the first of many."
Sunderland continue to be linked with a long list of potential targets, with the manager's former Manchester United team-mate Alan Smith the latest name to be added today.
He has given nothing away since sitting down with chairman Niall Quinn to plot the way ahead after clinching promotion to the Barclays Premiership at the end of April.
Indeed, Halford's capture came only hours after it emerged yesterday that he had travelled to the north-east for a medical.
Keane initially tried to sign the 22-year-old from Colchester last season, but top-flight Reading beat him to the player with the lure of Premiership football.
However, that did not put the Irishman off and with Halford making only three appearances for the Royals following his January move to the Madejski Stadium, he chanced his arm once again and was rewarded for his persistence.
Keane said: "We made an enquiry for him a few months ago when we were in the middle of the table. But he had a chance to go to the Premier League and he took it.
"We missed out, but we knew he had not played too many games and we kept an eye on it.
"We are delighted he has here and we hope he is a top player for Sunderland in the years to come."
Halford impressed Keane in Colchester's 3-1 defeat at the Stadium of Light in November last year.
At 6ft 5ins, the England Under-20 international is an imposing figure and is versatile, although he has been signed as a right-back who likes to get forward and score goals as well as create them.
Keane told the club's website, safc.com: "We saw first hand what a top player Greg is when he played against us for Colchester.
"Things didn't work out for him at Reading, but we hope he will have a major part to play for us next year and that he'll go on to be a top player."
Copyright (c) 2009 Press Association
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