STAN Ternent today insisted he is under no pressure to balance the books following his summer spending spree.

Rumours have been sweeping through the town that Ternent could be about to sell two of his most prized assets to Premiership newcomers Sunderland.

First, Glen Little was rumoured to be going to The Stadium of Light in a cash-plus-players deal involving Andy Marriott and Danny Dichio.

Then, Andy Payton was muted as a transfer target for Peter Reid following the departure of Michael Bridges to Leeds.

But the Clarets chief has laughed off the stories, insisting he wants to build a squad capable of winning promotion rather than dismantling one.

"I can't stop people speculating on what is happening and what isn't happening," said Ternent.

"But I'm trying to build a squad here, rather than destroy one.

"If someone did come in with an offer for a player which I thought was acceptable then I'd put it to the board.

"But I've not had any contact with Sunderland about any of my players.

"I speak to Peter Reid nearly every day but that's only because we are friends and we have a bit of a chat to catch up." It's not the first time some of Ternent's top players have been linked with moves to other clubs.

Speculation over the future of Little has been rife since Port Vale made a £750,000 bid for the winger earlier in the year.

Andy Cooke has been touted as a possible transfer target for Dario Gradi at Crewe.

And now last season's leading scorer, Andy Payton, is the latest to be linked with a move.

But none of the stories appear to have any foundation and Ternent insists Payton is going nowhere.

"Andy Payton is an important member of the squad and he's not going anywhere," said the Burnley boss.

Meanwhile, Reid brings his Sunderland squad to Turf Moor tomorrow as Burnley take on their second Premier League side in the space of four days.

Their 1-0 win over Everton on Thursday night will have done wonders for morale.

But tomorrow's game could provide a sterner test as Reid promises to play a strong side.

"We are just two weeks away from the Premier League kick-off and everything we do in our pre-season games will be focused on getting us ready for our first game against Chelsea," said Reid.

"You can't reproduce the intensity of a Premier League game in a friendly but playing so many games so close together in pre-season will help the players improve their fitness. "I will be putting out a strong side against them but I can't name my team yet."

Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips are expected to start up front.

And Reid's trio of summer signings - Steve Bould, Thomas Helmer and Carstan Fredgaard - are also expected to take their places in the starting line-up.

He will pick from: Sorensen, Makin, Gray, Bould, Butler, Helmer, Fregaard, Ball, Summerbee, Quinn, Phillips, Dichio, Wainwright, Lumsdon, McCann, Holloway and Marriott.

Reid is a good friend of both Ternent and his assistant, Sam Ellis, following their days at Bury and he's tipping Burnley for success this season.

"It will be smashing to see both Stan and Sam (Ellis).

"They are putting together a side which should do well in the Second Division next season.

"And I think it will be quite a hard game because they beat Everton in midweek which was a great result so they won't be making it easy for us."

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