Sunderland's manager, Steve Bruce, remains hopeful of pushing through a season-long loan deal for the Lyon defender John Mensah. Bruce said on Monday that the Black Cats hoped to agree a deal for the Ghana international within 48 hours but that deadline passed without agreement after negotiations were delayed. Bruce said last night: "The John Mensah thing is getting close. We are edging towards that one. It looks as if we might be able to have that one in the bag." The Paraguay international Paulo da Silva has yet to play for his new club because of the administrative difficulties which have surrounded his move from the Mexican side Toluca. The Sunderland manager is concentrating on defensive options as his transfer targets and has admitted an interest in Lucas Neill, who is out of contract at West Ham and has not yet agreed terms for a new deal. Bruce is understood to have effectively admitted defeat in his pursuit of Manchester City's Richard Dunne. Source: guardian.co.uk