Sunderland are planning an audacious swoop for Italian striking sensation Giampaolo Pazzini.
The Black Cats face unexpectedly fierce competition from Portsmouth to land Preston hit-man David Nugent – but would love to deal Pompey a blow by beating them to Fiorentina star Pazzini.
Roy Keane was thought to be solely watching Nugent when he attended England’s European Under-21 Championship clash with Italy in Arnhem last week.
But having already made his mind up on Nugent, Keane’s main focus was on Pazzini, 22, who is up for grabs from cash-strapped Fiorentina.
Although he failed to find the net in Arnhem, Pazzini became the first player to score at the new Wembley in hitting a hat-trick for Italy’s Under-21s in March.
Meanwhile, Keane still hopes to bring Jussi Jaaskelainen to the Stadium of Light, despite reports that the Finnish keeper has decided to see out the final year of his contract at Bolton.
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