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Roy keen to make move permanent
Sunderland, 15:29, September 14, 2008 ,
Sunderland boss Roy Keane is ready to break the club's transfer record with the permanent signing of Djibril Cisse.
The Frenchman is currently on a year-long loan deal at the Stadium of Light from French side Marseille but could make the move permanent if Sunderland are willing to pay the £13million asking price on the player's head.
The 27-year-old former Liverpool striker has already impressed in the north east with a goal on his debut and Keane admits he would love to make Cisse Sunderland's record capture.
"If the deal becomes permanent he will be our most expensive signing but the transfer record is there to be broken," said Keane.
"I will be happy to break our transfer record on him. He was fine with the deal. If it had dragged on we could have missed out on him.
"It is good for both parties. He is a signing that shows we are raising the bar.
"If he's fit and firing on all cylinders, he will be one of the best strikers in the Premier League."
Keane also revealed that a deal with Marseille has already been agreed and the Black Cat's boss expects a lot more to come from the talented forward.
He added: "We have a deal in place. The loan deal benefits everybody. He is still getting his match fitness up. We have to give him a certain kind of service. Once he gets fitter, he will score goals for us."