Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat is “very hopeful” that he will be able to bring in some new faces before the end of the transfer window on September 1.

The Dutch tactician, who made a U-turn earlier in the summer and decided to remain in charge at the Stadium of Light having guided the Black Cats to Premier League safety last term, has already been busy bolstering the squad.

Advocaat has drafted in four new faces in the shape of Sebastian Coates, Younes Kaboul, Jeremain Lens and Adam Matthews.

And speaking after watching Lens score the only goal of the game as Sunderland won their final pre-season friendly away to Hannover on Saturday, Advocaat revealed that the search is ongoing for more new recruits.

He told the Sunderland Echo as saying: “Will there be further arrivals? Wait and see. We are still working on that.

“If we can get something else done, I am sure we will do it. If we cannot, we will do it with this group, but I’m still very hopeful that things will happen this month.”

Sunderland are currently being linked with QPR midfielder Leroy Fer, AC Milan’s £5million-rated striker Alexandre Pato and reports claim the club are in advanced talks to sign French midfielder Yann M’Vila, who is in dispute with Russian club Rubin Kazan.

The Black Cats are priced at 3.00 to be relegated from the Premier League this season, while they can be backed at 2.50 to finish as the top North East club ahead of Newcastle, who are the 1.50 favourites.