Keane swoops for Dickson

Sunderland boss Roy Keane today continued his spending spree when he paid £1.5million for Norwich midfielder Dickson Etuhu.

The 25-year-old Nigerian is Keane's fifth summer signing and takes his investment so far this summer to around £16million.

Etuhu arrived on Wearside this morning for a medical and has signed a four-year contract.

Etuhu follows Greg Halford, Russell Anderson, Michael Chopra and Kieran Richardson to the Stadium of Light with Keane confident he is amassing a squad capable of making a real impact in the Barclays Premier League.

The Irishman said: "I'm very pleased that Dickson has signed. He will add competition to our squad and give us a real physical presence.

"He's a big, strong player who can also get a goal.

"We are definitely heading in the right direction as far as getting the players we want to the football club.

"The signing of Dickson creates competition and a club like Sunderland needs that.

"We all talk about the big four having competition for places, I feel every club should have it and that's what I'm trying to do here."

Central midfielder Etuhu was born in Nigeria, but raised in London, and attended the same school as new team-mate Nyron Nosworthy.

He began his career at Manchester City and secured a £300,000 move to Preston in 2002 before joining Norwich for £450,000 after a successful loan spell in January last year.

The Black Cats open their pre-season campaign at neighbours Darlington tomorrow evening, although Keanne today revealed Chopra and Richardson are unlikely to be involved, meaning Etuhu may also have to wait for his debut.