Martin O'Neill has refuted any suggestion that he often ignores the foreign transfer market and insists he will be exploring all avenues.
Black Cats boss will look abroad, but plans to ignore Euro 2012
Martin O'Neill has refuted any suggestion that he often ignores the foreign transfer market and insists he will be exploring all avenues this summer.
The Sunderland boss has, wherever he has been, attempted to build teams around a strong British core.
His success at Leicester and Aston Villa was built on such foundations, with the promotion of home-grown academy graduates a priority at Villa Park.
It has been reported that O'Neill will favour a similar approach at the Stadium of Light, with it his preference to bring in proven Premier League talent.
He insists that will not necessarily be the case, with it his intention to cast his net far and wide in the search for new recruits.
Important
O'Neill told the
Evening Chronicle: "If I was only going to buy British players, then I would not go abroad to watch football matches.
"People have always said I do my shopping late. However, I would prefer to have the players in early if it is possible, but sometimes you cannot do it.
"We could have an acquisition or two before the season starts, that is very important and certainly I would want them before the end of August."
While O'Neill will be looking to foreign fields for fresh faces, he says he will resist the temptation to spend big on any of those who catch the eye at Euro 2012.
He added: "I did it once at Celtic and bought a lad called Joos Valgaeren who turned out to be brilliant for us.
Principle
"There are one or two exceptions to everything of course and you cannot take it as a guaranteed rule of success.
"However, on principle I would not do it because I have seen the players you get. I would rather concentrate on what their league form is.
"Some people can rise to the occasion in two or three matches where the pace of the game is totally different to the league."
Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Cristian Riveros has completed a permanent move to Turkish side Kayserispor for an undisclosed fee.
The Paraguay international joined Sunderland in May 2010 but leaves having made just 14 appearances for the club.
