Bhoys' Balde the new target for Sunderland boss Keane as Kaboul deal looks set to fail

The boss signed £4million Steed Malbranque from Tottenham yesterday. The French midfielder has a four-year deal and joins former Spurs team-mates Pascal Chimbonda and Teemu Tainio at the club.

Balde move: Celtic defender Bobo Balde could be on his way to Sunderland

But Keane has been forced to seek an alternative option to Kaboul, who is close to joining Portsmouth, and Celtic have been eager to offload Balde for 12 months.

Keane made a winning return to Nottingham Forest last night as Sunderland secured a 1-0 victory thanks to a second-half goal from Kieran Richardson.

Keane refused to take it easy on the club where he began his playing career as two of his new signings were given their first outings.

He gave debuts to Chimbonda and El Hadji Diouf in what was virtually a full-strength side and Tainio earned his second run out in 48 hours, having played against Cobh on Monday.

Of the new boys, it was Diouf who looked the most impressive as Sunderland dominated possession against Colin Calderwood's experimental Forest line-up.