Sunderland's Steve Bruce targets Portsmouth's David James and Sylvain Distin - plus West Ham's Lucas Neill

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce wants to sign THREE more top Premier League - Portsmouth pair David James and Sylvain Distin plus West Ham contract rebel Lucas Neill.

Bruce has already been one of the busiest managers around but he hopes to do a deal with cash-strapped Pompey for England keeper James and French defender Distin - and beat off rivals for them.

And the Black Cats are also hopeful Neill will choose them rather than re-commit to Hammers, with sources close to the Australian saying he is due to decide on his future today.

Big-spending Sunderland still need a new back line, with Bruce content with his midfield arrivals and the double capture of strikers Darren Bent and Fraizer Campbell.

Bruce is willing to pay £1 million for James, who is also wanted by Harry Redknapp at Tottenham, while he will match and better offers for Distin - who has  Aston Villa in for him and Liverpool also monitoring the chase.