Keane closes in on Ferdinand

Roy Keane will push ahead with the £6million signing of West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand after missing out on Mikael Silvestre.

The Sunderland manager had hoped to be reunited with former Manchester United team-mate Silvestre at the Stadium of Light, but the Frenchman instead opted late last night to join rivals Arsenal on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Now, Keane will pursue former England Under-21 international Ferdinand - encouraged by the news that the successful comeback of James Collins means West Ham boss Alan Curbishley has a surplus of central defenders.

The sale of Ferdinand would give Upton Park boss Curbishley more financial clout to bring in his own signings before the transfer deadline on August 31.

Curbishley said: "We're hoping to have one or two more players back from injury this weekend so we will wait and see.

"But like most people we are trying to sign new ones, too."