Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill will avoid the temptation to sign players based solely on a good performance at Euro 2012.
The Black Cats signed a stand-out performer from the 2010 World Cup when Asamoah Gyan arrived for 13 million pounds, but the Ghanaian has since left the club on loan after making just 37 appearances.
O Neill insists he will look for the best players available but will remain cautious of potential one-hit wonders this summer.
I m not so sure that you should be buying players based on European Championships or World Cups, O Neill told The Sunderland Echo.
I did it once at Celtic and bought a lad called Joos Valgaeren, who actually turned out to be brilliant for us. There are one or two exceptions to everything, of course.
But, on principle, I wouldn t do it because I ve seen the players you get. I’d rather concentrate on what their league form is.
However, the 60-year-old says that does not mean he will avoid European players. In fact, he has recently returned from a scouting trip on the continent.
At previous club Aston Villa, O Neill mainly signed home-grown players but is keen to dispel the myth that he avoids overseas players and prefers to buy players in the latter stages of the transfer window.
He continued: If I was only going to buy British players then I wouldn t go abroad to watch football matches.
People have always said I do my shopping late. I would prefer to have the players in early if it s possible, but sometimes you can t do it.