NIALL QUINN yesterday revealed that Roy Keane will not be imminently signing a new contract at Sunderland as he "has not been offered one". Keane is now two months into the final year of his current agreement as Sunderland's manager but his chairman's comments should definitely not be interpreted as the preface to an impending parting of the ways.
"Roy is not going to sign a new contract because he hasn't been offered one yet," Quinn said. "The transfer window closing will probably be the time to get ourselves into that situation and get our way forward to making an announcement later on in the year."
In a profession where such deals are typically renegotiated with 18 months to two years remaining it is an unusually laid-back timescale but one that suits both parties.
"Roy hasn't got an agent banging down the door or leaking things to the press," said Quinn. "We have been very relaxed about it."
After watching his side lose 1-0 to Ajax, courtesy of a goal from Jan Klaas Huntelaar, in a friendly at the Stadium of Light yesterday, Keane concurred. "I agree with Niall 100 per cent. It is not important at the moment, signing new players is the priority. Whether it happens next month, Christmas or January, I'm very relaxed," he said.
Such trust highlights the way in which the former Ireland team-mates' relationship has been repaired since they fell out in the wake of Keane's infamous diatribe against the then Republic of Ireland manager, Mick McCarthy, at the 2002 World Cup.
"We don't ring each other up to discuss the weather, we don't go for little pat-on-the-back meals but what we do is discuss business together," said Quinn.
"We have a different kind of partnership to the normal chairman-manager thing where the chairman is saying do well or else. We are in this together. We were in it together from day one and I dare say it will remain in place for a good long time yet."
Quinn, who claims he automatically fines anyone who refers to him as "chairman", is also unconcerned about repeated suggestions that Keane is one day destined to succeed Alex Ferguson as Manchester United's manager.
"I was asked about this two years ago. I said I would be thrilled because it would mean we would be in a better place and it's a problem I'd love to have in a couple of years' time. And who knows - I would not bet against this guy doing anything."
Keane must, however, cope without Kenwyne Jones for some time and the manager confirmed that Sunderland's best striker will have exploratory surgery on a potentially major knee ligament injury today. He is duly in the market for at least one more striker as well as a central defender and a left-back.
"It's fingers crossed for Kenwyne but even last season I thought we needed another top striker," said Keane, who added that he is pursuing "one or two" forwards and "two" defenders but has little hope of luring Jonny Evans back from Manchester United for a third loan spell.
Keane's old club Celtic are closing in on the Barcelona midfielder Marc Crosas but reports that a €2.5 million fee has already been agreed appear to be premature. The player's agent yesterday admitted there was still work to do before the 20-year-old arrives at Parkhead.
"As of close of business on Friday, a deal was not done and I have had no confirmation since from Barcelona," Angel Castell said. "Barcelona were thinking of a loan, but the player is keen on a transfer and is waiting to fly to Glasgow."
Castell believes that there are only a few minor details to be agreed although the player has yet to discuss terms with Celtic, where the player would be hoping for a deal of at least three years. Sevilla, Sporting Gijon and Sampdoria are also reported to be interested in the player.
Crosas, who featured for Barca in the recent friendly wins over Dundee United and Hibernian, made his first-team debut two seasons ago but has played only once since, although he went on loan to Lyon in January and played eight times for them.
Hearts' new manager, Csaba Laszlo, said his side lacked "killer instinct" after their 1-0 win over Hull City in his first game, although he will not be given the funds to rectify the problem. Laszlo is awaiting a work permit for David Obua to make the Ugandan midfielder his first signing, but he does not expect a new forward to arrive before Motherwell visit on Saturday.
"If we would like to have a striker with the killer instinct, we must have two or three million euros," the Hungarian added. "We can look for Luca Toni but I don't think it's possible to bring Luca Toni here. It's possible to work with players and build a scouting system to find a new Luca Toni."
