ROY Keane has warned he will not pay over the odds for players even though the club is backed by a multi-millionaire.

Derek Davis

IN FACTFILE

ROY Keane has warned he will not pay over the odds for players even though the club is backed by a multi-millionaire.

The Blues boss is determined to bring in players with character that he knows and has already been linked with a raft of players from his previous clubs Manchester United and Sunderland

Keane said: “We have our targets and if we can get them for the right price then great, if we can't then we will back away and be patient.

“It's important that we bring in the right characters for the football club. I like to know a little bit about their personalities. Attitude is more important than ability in many respects now.

“To play for a professional club, you are going to have a decent level of talent anyway but to get to the very top and have a long and successful career, you have to have a good attitude.

“A real determination to improve yourself every day and without that you're in trouble.”

Keane is prepared to play the waiting game as he looks ahead to assembling his squad for the new season.

He refuses to confirm or deny targets he has been linked with although he has made it clear he wants to add to his squad, especially after releasing nine players.

He said: “I'm hoping it will be a busy summer but it could be a quiet summer.

“Media speculation is all part of the game and we were always going to get linked to this player and that player and I'm sure it will carry on all summer.”