Tongue in cheek for Keegan but is Sunderland's spending power going to allow them to progress while their neighbours fail in the transfer market? Football FanCast columnist Alex Dimond investigates.

Roy Keane, the Sunderland manager, yesterday finally sealed a deal that brings Steed Malbranque to the Wearside club. Malbranque, who becomes the third Tottenham player to move to Sunderland this summer, took longer than anticipated to agree terms, but his new manager is delighted with to finally secure his capture.

He told the Daily Mail yesterday: “It's gone through,” said a relieved Keane. “We are delighted. It's taken longer than we expected but we appreciate it's an important decision for the player and we move on.” With the Irishman looking to lead his club on a march up the league, the French midfielder is exactly the sort of quality signing he wants: “Quality. That's the word. We need that added to the squad. You can't beat that for a manager. We are heading in the right direction in terms of people trying to give me a headache.”

Another person who is getting a headache after all Sunderland’s transfer activity is Kevin Keegan. The Newcastle manager, who has been frustrated in his pursuit of transfer targets this summer, will be looking at his rival’s activity with worry, and no doubt a touch of envy – how he must wish his chairman, Mike Ashley, would sanction the spending of similar funds! Familiar with how life works on Tyneside, he knows that being beaten in the league by the ‘Mackems’ is absolutely unthinkable, but now a real possibility.

While he has managed to sign Danny Guthrie and Jonas Gutierrez this summer, Keegan still wants to add a few more players. Despite bringing in six new faces in the same period, the Sunderland manager also isn’t satisfied: “I don't think I've signed that many players. But we have added quality. We have another two or three in mind and we'd like to make progress in the next few days. We need one or two more.”

While Newcastle undoubtedly started the summer with a stronger squad, Sunderland have made far more progress in the transfer window. With only 4 points separating the arch-rivals last season (Newcastle finishing on top), it looks likely to be a very close affair this season. With Keegan amongst the favourites to be the first managerial casualty of the 08/09 campaign, the pressure is on.

The battle for North-East supremacy could be a deciding factor in his survival as manager of the Magpies With little money being made available to him, he will have to utilise all his famous man-management skills to inspire the team. But even this may not be enough to repel Keane’s overhauled squad. It promises to be an interesting season in the North-East.

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