Mick McCarthy admits that he will have to sell before he gets the go-ahead to bring in new players.
The Sunderland boss has already had a number of enquiries about some of his top names and he will look to cash in as soon as the transfer window opens later this month.
Kevin Phillips and Thomas Sorensen are seen as the club's most saleable assets but whoever leaves, McCarthy will look to push through the deals as soon as possible.
The Black Cats manager said: "I've had a few calls about players, the ones you would expect - the so-called top players - so there is interest in them and I know that those players want to play in the Premier League.
"Clubs have just been sounding things out, but it goes to show that people are interested in them.
"I've tried to encourage clubs to get the business done as quickly as possible and we incorporate all that within the deal, because otherwise we have to carry on paying the salaries for longer.
"And the longer that nobody leaves, the longer I can't bring anyone in, so if we can get deals done as early as possible then I can start signing new players."
McCarthy is determined to have a new-look squad when Sunderland return to pre-season training in early July.
He said: "I'm excited about next season and I think that we need some new faces to excite the fans. We need someone to capture the imagination or to spark off the rest of them.
"I want to manage in the Premier League and the players who will be here next season, and the lads who will be coming in, also want to play in the Premier League. The only way that can happen is by starting off well and making sure we come straight back up."
One player McCarthy has been linked with this week is Ferdinand Coly, who is currently on loan at Birmingham.
The 29-year-old Senegal international, who played in last summer's World Cup, is set to leave Lens after being told that he does not figure in the club's plans, but it looks increasingly unlikely that Birmingham will offer him a contract.
McCarthy said: "I've watched Birmingham reserves two or three times and Coly has done well. I like him but you have to bear in mind we have got players like Matt Piper, Jason McAteer and Thomas Butler down that side.
"He impressed me but that's as far as it goes - I am always looking at players."
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