Sunderland head coach Dick Advocaat has revealed that he was looking to sign Zenit St Petersburg defender Nicolas Lombaerts during the summer.
The Belgian centre-back was heavily linked with a switch to the Black Cats, who are currently bottom of the Premier League after failing to win any of their opening six matches, but a deal never went through.
Advocaat has claimed that his side are giving the ball away too cheaply, which was one reason why he wanted to push through the signing of Lombaerts.
"We have too many players who just kick the ball away," the Dutchman told the Shields Gazette.
"That was why I was so keen to get Lombaerts who can start things off at the back."
Sunderland travel to Manchester United on Saturday.
