Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio has insisted that he will not sell his "quality" stars in this summer's transfer window.
Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has been linked with a £10m move to Arsenal, but Di Canio has suggested that he has been given the green light to strengthen his team as opposed to offloading players.
"It is clear that we have to bring in players over the summer – half-a-dozen, maybe more," the Shields Gazette quotes Di Canio as saying.
"We finished near the relegation zone, and so it is obvious that we need to make changes to make sure that we are not in this situation next season.
"But at the same time we already have some quality players here, and I want them to stay. I want to build something here at Sunderland, and take the club forward, that is my mission. So the last thing I want to do is to let any of our quality players leave."
The Black Cats finished just three points above the drop this season.
Danielle Joynson
