But one move which now appears completely dead is Daryl Murphy's proposed switch to Hull City, which faltered on personal terms.

Murphy was part of the squad taking part in training in the Algarve yesterday but skipper Dean Whitehead was absent.

The Sunderland manager revealed: "I've let Dean stay at home because there's still every chance that the move to Stoke City will go through.

"His decision to want to go had nothing to do with me.

"I think he's just decided that he could do with a fresh start and we have to respect that.

"I'm not sure how close that move is as things stand, I'll just leave that up to them.

"As for Daryl, there was a prospect of a move and we allowed Hull to speak to him.

"But I wasn't pushing him out of the door and it's up to him, like everyone else in the squad to prove to be over the next few weeks that they deserve to be part of the first-team squad come the start of the season."