Newcastle Evening Cronicle:
Sunderland boss Roy Keane was today linked with a move for Manchester United duo Paul Scholes and Kieran Richardson after the pair were spotted on Wearside over the weekend.
Black Cats chairman Niall Quinn announced last week that his side are working on several big transfer deals at the moment, and the arrival of former England star Scholes and unsettled international Richardson are certainly two names that would capture the imagination of Stadium of Light fans.
Scholes will return to pre-season training to the sight of Owen Hargreaves, Nani, and Anderson at Old Trafford, and at 32 will not want to face a fight for regular football, meaning a reunion with Keane could be on the cards.
Sir Alex Ferguson has never stood in the way of letting some of his Old Trafford favourites go if he believes the deal will benefit the player, with Nicky Butt and Phil Neville both allowed to join Newcastle and Everton respectively.
And after winning his seventh title medal with the Red Devils last season, Scholes could be ready to go out at the Theatre of Dreams on a high before taking on a new challenge in the twilight of his career.
Meanwhile, Richardson - who has been linked with Sunderland over the weekend again - would cost Keane £2.5m with discussion between the two clubs already said to be under way for the arrival of the London-born midfielder.
Like Scholes, Richardson is also desperate to get a guarantee of first-team action after playing a bit-part role at Old Trafford last term, and at 22 is looking to get back on the international scene after making a goalscoring start to his England career with a brace in Chicago against the USA two years ago.
However, Richardson's progress has nose-dived somewhat since then, and with a season of reserve-team football beckoning at Man United, the time could be right to move on.
Keane:
"There's no chance of that happening, never was. [Scholes]
"He will be coming to Sunderland this season, I have no doubt about that. But he'll be wearing the red shirt of Manchester United.
"The fans, everyone, should just chill out and relax.
"Let me do my job, that is what I am paid very well to do. Everyone is getting worried about this and that, but you can't go on what other clubs have got. You have got to look at what we have got and we've got a great foundation to go and have a great season. I know we have to strengthen the squad, I am well aware of that."