Sunderland manager Steve Bruce claims it will be impossible for his side to break into the Premier League top four next season, but believes European qualification is within reach of the Black Cats.

The former Wigan Athletic manager is set to start second campaign in charge at the Stadium of Light, and in his first season he guided them to 13th position in an up-and-down campaign.

Bruce has been busy in the transfer market this summer as he plans for an assault on the top half of the Premier League next season.

He has signed Belgium Under-21 goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, Paraguay star Cristian Riveros and Egypt international Ahmed Al-Muhammadi already and is still being linked with a number of other stars.

Riveros was last seen in South African, attempting to help his side upset the 2010 World Cup betting, but he did not set the world alight.

Bruce told the Sunderland Echo that he is aiming for the Premier League top eight next season, despite the fact it will be a "very difficult" task as they are "playing catch up" on a number of more established top-flight teams.

"If we stay up next season then we'll then going into our fifth consecutive season and I think people will be looking at us differently," the manager said.

"We improved towards the end of the season - statistics tell us that more than anything else - but the challenge next season will be improving away from home."

The Premier League betting odds suggest Sunderland could struggle, but new signings could give them a boost.

Bruce is expected to bolster his defence ahead of a tough Premier League season by securing the signing of Argentinean Marcos Angeleri someday soon as the manager goes on the hunt for European qualification.